To kick off NAIDOC Week in 2024, Football NSW will mark the weekend of competitions from the 5 – 7 July as ‘Indigenous Round’, with Clubs and Associations invited to celebrate First Nations culture and football participants.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with the 2024 theme being ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’.
Another major feature of NAIDOC Week will be the 2024 NAIDOC Cup, the tournament’s third year of operation. Following two successful years of First Nations representation, the Cup returns to Lake Macquarie in 2024 with Football NSW aiming for a third consecutive title.
Read more about the Football NSW 2024 NAIDOC Cup teams
As NAIDOC Week approaches, Football NSW is encouraging Clubs and Associations to acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous Round on the 5-7 July. To ensure we can promote community activations, keep us updated with any planned activities by contacting Annabel Meadley (Inclusion & Diversity Coordinator).
ACTIVATE FOR INDIGENOUS ROUND AND NAIDOC WEEK
- Utilise our customisable graphic assets to incorporate Club / Association logos:
- Matchday ‘Welcome to Country’: If you are interested in having a local Elder provide a Welcome to Country, we would suggest the first point of call would be your local Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Officer (or alike)
- Acknowledgement of Country: If a Welcome to Country is not possible, we would also suggest an Acknowledgement of Country (example below) prior to any local events which can be delivered by a club administrator. More information on Acknowledgement of Country
Working example of an Acknowledgement of Country:
“I begin today by acknowledging the [name of local custodians], the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather here today and pay my respect to Elders both past, present, and future. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.”
- Create a social media post acknowledging NAIDOC Week and supporting the 2024 theme.
- The NAIDOC Week website has a number of digital assets that a club can utilise including various logos and an email banner.
- The NAIDOC Week website also has a list of ideas to activate for local events, including flag raising and / or smoking ceremonies, community BBQs, and more.