News Alert |

Ballarat celebrates NAIDOC Week 2019. 

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

The National NAIDOC theme for 2019 is: “Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future”. 

 Ballarat’s NAIDOC Week activities are organised by local Aboriginal groups and organisations, the City of Ballarat’s Koorie Engagement Group (KEAG), and other community partners. The activities will include:  

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) NAIDOC Community Open Day today at Ballarat Showgrounds from 10am-2pm. Entry via Howitt Street. Free BBQ lunch, Australian animal display, jumping castle, rides and stalls.  KEAG will host a NAIDOC Launch Reception at Housey-Housey on Friday 5 July, 5-7pm. Register your attendance at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/city-of-ballarat-16741715366  Fed Uni and the Eureka Centre present ‘Wrong Side of the Road’ film screening and discussion at the Eureka Centre on Sunday 7 July 2019 at 4pm. This event is free, but bookings are essential as seats are limited. For bookings go to https://wrongsideoftheroad.eventbrite.com.au   City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh will raise the NAIDOC Week flag at Queen Victoria Square, opposite the Town Hall on Monday 8 July at 10am. The event will include a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony.   The NAIDOC Week Mayoral Reception in Ballarat Town Hall will follow the flag-raising ceremony. The reception will feature Indigenous catering from Bushfood chef Blake Clark and two performances from Yorta Yorta musician Allara Briggs Pattison  The City of Ballarat will host an On Country Bus Tour on Wednesday 10 July. The two busses for this event are already fully-booked.  The City of Ballarat and KEAG will host Facing Up with local writer, researcher and performer Lynden Nicholls. This event features historical speeches by Australian Prime Ministers, a First Nations perspective, at the Prime Ministers Avenue, Ballarat Botanical Gardens on Sunday 14 July at 2pm  Ballarat Libraries will host several themed Storytime and Little Languages sessions at all library locations throughout the week.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says the City of Ballarat has a strong commitment to working with and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. 

“The City of Ballarat’s recently launched third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2019-2021 further cements our commitment to progress reconciliation in our city,” she says. 

“As a city, we know we have much more to accomplish together. We are committed to doing all we can to make the path toward reconciliation a more achievable one.” 

The City of Ballarat first embarked on a journey of reconciliation in 2003, when Council adopted a Statement of Commitment to the local indigenous community. The City of Ballarat then established an Unfinished Business Advisory Committee (UBAC), which became known as the Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) in 2010. 

“KEAG works closely with Council leadership and staff, and plays a key role in enhancing the opportunities for Koorie residents of Ballarat to contribute, participate and benefit from Ballarat’s community life,” Cr McIntosh says. 

The City of Ballarat also celebrates several recent key achievements: 

The launch of the City of Ballarat’s third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2019-2021 as part of National Reconciliation Week. The City of Ballarat’s Intercultural Services team worked with the Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) and Reconciliation Australia to deliver the RAP.   The recruitment of the City of Ballarat’s first Aboriginal Cultural Liaison officer (still in the recruitment phase)  The City of Ballarat’s ongoing consultation with the local community around 26 January public celebrations  KEAG Advisory Committee achievements including the development of an On Country Acknowledgement ‘reference card’, and KEAG Logo 

For more information on Ballarat’s NAIDOC Week activities, contact BADAC on 5331 5344.