National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

The theme for 2024 National NAIDOC week was Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. “Blak, Loud and Proud” celebrates Indigenous identity, calling for a reclamation of narratives, an amplification of voices, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. 

As a part of our celebrations, Jack Hayes, a Year 11 student who is a proud Noongar and Koori man currently living on Bunurong Land, shared his Mordialloc College AFL jersey design with the whole school. During this presentation, we learned from Jack about how his art represents the importance of his Indigenous culture to him, and how the patterns on the jersey use the school colours to make links between the local sport community, whilst also representing the Indigenous community.

A huge thank you to Jack, who took the time to explain the meaning behind the designs on our Mordialloc College AFL jersey. 

Also, a big congratulations to Aiden Hince for winning our Visual Arts competition: express what Indigenous culture means to you.

Thank you to our Leading Teacher (Student Engagement) Julie Hockey for planning the NAIDOC Whole School assembly, and also to all other staff who supported our students to shine during this event.