Gomeroi Community thriving through NAIDOC Week
Aboriginal Affairs NSW proudly joined the Tamworth community for NAIDOC Week with a vibrant and inclusive event that celebrated the strength, vision and legacy of Aboriginal people and communities.
The NAIDOC Family Fun Day event opened with march through Tamworth with over 1,200 attendees, followed by a Gomeroi Corroboree at Bicentennial Park with over 200 young people showcasing a range of dances to celebrate the 2025 NAIDOC theme: ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’.
Aboriginal Affairs NSW
Tamworth NAIDOC Week 2025
The Tamworth NAIDOC Family Fun Day was filled with music, performances, and conversations that brought the community together in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, histories and achievements.
Proud Gomeroi Elder Uncle Joe Craigie said:
"It’s been a fantastic week, around what a vision of NAIDOC it is, the legacy it provides, and the opportunity for young people to inherit and to also earn that leadership in our community."
Proud Gomeroi man and Councilor Marc Sutherland said:
“It makes me proud to know that moments like these, however small, help chip away at old structures that once did so much damage, and build new ones where our culture belongs. We are all the next generation, and we are all responsible for shaping the world our children will inherit."
Aboriginal Affairs NSW
Several local Tamworth initiatives were supported by Aboriginal Affairs’ 2025 NAIDOC Grants Program.
Collectively, Tamworth-based applicants received $15,000 in funding. These grants helped empower Aboriginal-led organisations to create meaningful opportunities for cultural expression, education, and connection throughout Tamworth.
Dancer at the Tamworth NAIDOC event 2025. Aboriginal Affairs NSW use only.
We encourage any community groups or organisations who are dreaming up ideas for NAIDOC week 2026 to reach out to the New England North West (NENW) team at Aboriginal Affairs NSW by early February 2026 to discuss potential grant opportunities. We are here to support you in bringing your vision to life.
To find out more about NAIDOC grants or to talk with our team, contact Aboriginal Affairs NSW NENW regional office on 02 8575 1172.