Community Service: NAAUC and NAIDOC

The community service aspect of the 2009 NAAUC conference will centre on NAIDOC week. National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC), coincides with NAAUC this year and provides a significant way for NAAUC participants to get involved in celebrating the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia.

Whilst NAIDOC week is a national event, it provides the opportunity for those not only in Indigenous communities, but all other Australians to participate in a range of activities and support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The theme for NAIDOC week 2009 is ‘Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth’. The University of Sydney has established the Koori Centre, which provides programs, services and facilities to encourage and support the involvement of Indigenous Australians in all aspects of tertiary education at the University. Significantly, the Koori Centre plays a major role in coordinating local events and celebrating NAIDOC week on the University Campus. NAAUC along with the Koori Centre will be playing an active role in NAIDOC week.