NAIDOC Week events funding

Council’s NAIDOC Week Grant funding applications for 2025 will open on 3 February 2025 and close 3 March 2025.

Council's annual NAIDOC Week grants enable not-for-profit organisations and schools to apply for funds to hold culturally significant projects or events in celebration of NAIDOC Week.

Council’s NAIDOC Week fund was established to increase community awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s achievements, culture, and heritage. Successful applicants utilise funding to implement a cultural hands-on project or event in the Lake Macquarie LGA.

The Next Generation:  Strength, Vision and Legacy - 6-13 July 2025

The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality. Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we commemorate this 50-year legacy, we also look forward, honouring the next generation who will carry the torch, shaping the future with courage, insight, and deep respect for our roots. Guided by the wisdom of our Elders and the groundwork laid by our forebears, each NAIDOC Week reinforces our vision for an Australia where Indigenous voices are not only heard but lead the way.   From this solid foundation, the next generation will rise—grounded in the strength of our Elders, history, inspired by a shared vision, and committed to building a legacy of unity, respect, and self-determination for all. This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate not just a milestone but a movement that endures, grows, and evolves—driven by the unwavering strength of our communities, the shared vision of our people, and the enduring legacy we pass on to those who will shape our future. Together, we walk forward, honouring where we've come from and looking boldly to the next generation who will carry NAIDOC and their communities into the future.