NAIDOC Week is one of Australia’s most important annual celebrations, recognising and honouring the history, cultures, achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The 2026 NAIDOC Week theme, “50 Years of Deadly”, marks a significant milestone. It celebrates 50 years of recognising and elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, achievements, leadership and resilience. The word Deadly is widely used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a positive term meaning excellent, strong, inspiring and outstanding.

For early childhood education and care services, NAIDOC Week provides a meaningful opportunity to deepen children’s understanding of Australia’s First Peoples, foster respect for diverse cultures, strengthen cultural responsiveness and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives authentically throughout the year.

Importantly, NAIDOC Week is not simply a themed week. It is an opportunity to reflect on how services acknowledge Country, build genuine relationships with local communities, honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing, and create environments where every child develops a strong sense of belonging and respect for Australia’s rich cultural heritage.

Through play, storytelling, art, music, language, nature exploration and community connections, educators can help children develop appreciation for the world’s oldest continuing cultures while supporting the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standard.