News and Information from Lilydale Heights College

First Nations

Taylah Moschetti

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week 2025 was celebrated from 6-13 July and is a time for all Australians to come together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This annual event, organised by the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC), is a significant occasion for recognising and respecting the rich heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities.

The Importance of NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC has evolved from a day of protest and advocacy into a vibrant week of events and activities that encourage everyone to learn more about Indigenous cultures and histories. This week provides an opportunity for all Australians to deepen their understanding of the oldest living cultures on earth and to engage in meaningful dialogue and reflection.

 

This Year’s Theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

This year's theme celebrates 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities and the legacy of our ancestors. 

 

Celebrating NAIDOC at LHC 

This year to celebrate NAIDOC Week, we have placed new signs in the H-Wing corridor! These signs were designed and made by Jackson W. (7F) and Ruby C. (7A), over five Koorie days.     Each sign features the name of an animal in both English and Woiwurrung language, encouraging our school community to embrace and use First Nations language. To celebrate the NAIDOC 2025 theme, we invite staff and students to refer to their classrooms using Woiwurrung names, for example, “I am in Waa” (also known as H2). You should notice similarities between the animals featured in the signs and those in the Creation Story.     We kindly ask everyone to respect the signs by not touching them. 

Listed below are the animal names assigned to each H-Wing classroom. 

  • H1 – Kangaroo / Marram 
  • H2 – Crow / Waa
  • H3 – Eagle / Bunjil
  • H4 – Butterfly / Balam-Balam
  • H5 - Emu / Boorimal
  • H6 – Willietale / Djirri-Djirri
  • H7 – Owl / Muk-Muk
  • H8 – Frog / Ngarrett
  • H9 - Koala / Gurrborra 
  • H10 – Possum / Walert 
  • H11 – Wallaby / Wimbirr 
  • H12 – Echidna / Gawan 
  • H13 – Kookaburra / Gurrng/Gurrng 

 

Key significant dates on the calendar:

  • 4 August – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 
  • 9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 
  • 4 September – Indigenous Literacy Day 

Taylah Moschetti - First Nations Advocate at Lilydale Heights College. 

Email her at taylah.moschetti@education.vic.gov.au  if you ever need a yarn. 

Until next newsletter update!