Aboriginal Housing Victoria’s NAIDOC Family Day is back for 2025! Our much-loved community event will feature live music, dance, arts and crafts, storytelling and a free BBQ. Plus, lots of family fun activities including kids' sports clinic, face painting and prizes to be won!

This year, musical celebrations will be headlined by Gamilaraay artist Mitch Tambo.

Join us at the Aborigines Advancement League on Thursday 10 July from 10.30am to 2.30pm to celebrate the oldest living culture in the world with us.

Program:

MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT

11am Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony & Guest Speakers

11.35am Indigenous Outreach Projects

12pm Djirri Djirri Dancers

12.20pm AHV Speakers: Darren Smith, CEO & Monique Massingham

12.30pm Yirrmal

1.05pm Mitch Tambo

ACTIVITIES

All Day – Native Animal Handling, Jumping Castle (weather permitting), Face Painting, AHV Art Gallery, Arts and Crafts including Weaving, Emu Feather Beading, Boomerang Painting, Bookmaking

11am & 12.30pm Storytime with Darebin & Yarra Libraries

12.30-2pm Youth Stage Open Mic

SPORTS CLINICS

10.30-12pm & 12.30-2pm Koori Clinic by Netball Victoria

11am-2pm Football with AFL and Fitzroy Stars, Soccer with Melbourne City FC, Boomerang Throwing, Softball with Melbourne Softball Association

RAFFLE PRIZES

Winners will be drawn at the Main Stage throughout the day – collect your tickets at the event entrances.

1st Prize – NAIDOC exclusive custom Crumpler Bag, Queen Victoria Market and Yarn Marketplace Vouchers, Market Lane Coffee Hamper, Instax Polaroid Gift Set, MeatSmith Meat Tray and more.

2nd Prize – Gift Vouchers including Chadstone Shopping Centre, Yarn Marketplace and more, Charles Street Butcher Meat Tray, and a Lush & Sukin pamper hamper.

3rd Prize – Gift Vouchers including Yarn Marketplace, Preston Market and more, and a Lush & Sukin pamper hamper.

AHV Renter Raffle – Win 1 of 3 $100 Gift Vouchers

Visit the Youth Stage and Sports Clinics for a chance to win more prizes.

This is a FREE, all ages event.

AHV's NAIDOC Family Day brings our diverse communities together to celebrate the significant contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to our community, our families, our history and our nation. This year’s NAIDOC theme is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" and marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. This year celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. Join us to commemorate this 50-year legacy, honouring the next generation who will carry the torch, shaping the future with courage, insight, and deep respect for our roots. 🖤💛❤️

We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this event takes place, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples continue to live in spiritual and sacred relationships with this Country on lands that have never been ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Photo Release Notice: By registering for this event you consent to photography, audio recording and/or video recording and release, publication, exhibition or reproduction that may be used for promotional purposes, advertising, and inclusion on our website or social media pages. Further, you agree to waive all rights to claims of payment or royalties in connection with promotional use of such media.

Artwork featured: Flick Chafer-Smith (Ngarrindjeri) ‘Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy’ 2025, acrylic on canvas

This National NAIDOC Week Activity received funding from the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Proudly supported by the City of Darebin's Community Grants Program.