Art News

Year 5 & 6 NAIDOC Week Collaborative Murals

In preparation for NAIDOC Week (Sunday 6th July – Sunday 13th July), our Year 5 and 6 students have been proudly working on two large-scale collaborative art murals. 

NAIDOC Week — which stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee — is an important time for all Australians to come together to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding and appreciation of First Nations perspectives and contributions.

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC week is: "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy". This theme celebrates the achievements of the past while looking towards a future shaped by the strength of young Indigenous leaders, the vision of their communities, and the legacy of their ancestors. It also marks the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week celebrations. 

The artwork created by the Year 5 and 6 students was inspired by the work of a young local Indigenous artist, Bailey Mifsud (Merindah-Gunya). These beautiful artworks celebrate the themes, colours, and storytelling traditions found in First Nations art and culture.

For the murals, students used pastel and earth colours inspired by the Australian landscape, and incorporated traditional Indigenous symbols and dot painting, reflecting styles from North Central Australia.

This creative project builds on the learning that Year 6 students have undertaken throughout the semester, where they have explored Indigenous perspectives in Australian art, and created their own landscapes using abstract and dot painting techniques and cultural understandings.

We are very proud of the thoughtfulness, respect, and collaboration students have shown during this process. Their finished murals will be displayed in our school when completed as a visual celebration of culture, connection, and creativity. 

We hope you take the time to reflect on NAIDOC week as you view the student’s artwork below.

Happy Holidays!

Regards,

Andria Arendze

Visual Arts Teacher