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National NAIDOC Week celebrations celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
2026 NAIDOC Theme: 50 Years of Deadly
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.
Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. The Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.
Event locations and times
| Gold Coast campus | Lismore campus | Coffs Harbour campus |
|---|---|---|
| Tues 21 July 11am – 2pm Quadrangle |
Wed 22 July 11am – 2pm Goodman Plaza |
Thurs 23 July 11am – 2pm Gathering Space |
Further information:
E: scuiecc@scu.edu.au
P: (02) 6620 3377
If you are interested in attending SCU NAIDOC as a stallholder, please fill out the registration form:
Gold Coast Registration Form
Lismore Registration Form
Coffs Harbour Registration Form
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You're invited
Southern Cross University invites all staff, students, and community to join us in celebrating NAIDOC at Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour campus locations. This community day includes events across the three campuses with cultural performances, workshops/activities, stalls and musicians with a guest performance by Christine Anu.
Christine Anu bio
Christine Anu is one of Australia’s most celebrated recording artists and live performers, whose powerful voice, acclaimed stage and screen career, and proud Torres Strait Islander heritage continue to inspire audiences through music, culture, and storytelling.
Christine Anu is one of Australia’s most celebrated live performers and recording artists, renowned for her powerful stage presence, distinctive voice, and enduring contribution to Australian music. A multi-ARIA Award winner, Christine has captivated audiences for more than three decades, using her artistry and public profile to share messages of unity, hope, and cultural pride.
Best known for her iconic APRA AMCOS Award-winning anthem My Island Home and her platinum-selling album Stylin’ Up, Christine has established herself as one of the country’s most respected and beloved performers. Her extensive live performance career has seen her headline major festivals, national tours, corporate events, community celebrations, and prestigious national occasions. Her unforgettable performance of My Island Home at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony remains one of the defining moments in Australian entertainment history, with the song widely regarded as an unofficial Australian anthem.
Christine’s remarkable versatility has enabled her to excel across music, theatre, film, television, radio, and children’s entertainment. She has starred in acclaimed stage productions including Rent and Hadestown, while also appearing in major film productions such as Moulin Rouge! and The Matrix Reloaded. Throughout her career, however, live performance has remained at the heart of her artistic identity, earning her a reputation as one of Australia’s most engaging and accomplished entertainers.
Proudly Torres Strait Islander, Christine has consistently used her platform to celebrate First Nations culture and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as other underrepresented communities. Her authentic storytelling and cultural leadership continue to resonate with audiences across generations.
In addition to her performance career, Christine has been a prominent media personality and broadcaster, hosting programs for ABC Radio and connecting with listeners nationwide.
Among her proudest achievements are her roles as a mother and mentor. She has shared the stage with her daughter, Zipporah, on numerous occasions, including a memorable performance at the 2019 Women’s NRL Grand Final, continuing a family legacy of music and performance.
In August 2024, Christine released her highly anticipated album Waku – Minaral A Minalay, a deeply personal and culturally significant body of work that honours family, language, and heritage. Widely regarded as the most important recording project of her career, the album celebrates the legacy of her grandfather through stories preserved and shared by future generations.
Today, Christine Anu remains one of Australia’s most respected performers—an artist whose extraordinary live shows, timeless music, and commitment to culture continue to inspire audiences throughout the country and beyond.
50 Years of Deadly Indigenous Higher Education at Southern Cross University
Gnibi Wandarahn Exhibition (Southern Cross Place of Learning)
Lismore, Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour Libraries
July 7-31, 2026
Visit and learn a little about the history of Gnibi as we highlight ‘50 Years of Deadly Indigenous Higher Education at Southern Cross University’, from the North Coast Institute of Aboriginal Community Education (NCIACE) to Gungil Jindibah Centre, Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples, and Indigenous Australian Student Services (IASS). It’s about acknowledging and paying tribute to the leadership and strength of the many generations of people it took to get us here today, from Elders, staff, students and community, and where we will move to in the future.
Opening and Panel Discussion
Lismore: J Block Auditorium
Livestream to:
Gold Coast: A4.05, Building A
Coffs Harbour: MLG.13, Building M
Zoom link to join online: Click here
Passcode: 133997
July 16, 2026
12pm -1pm
RSVP: Please complete the form for catering purposes: https://bit.ly/NAIDOC-Opening-Registration-2026
Join Gnibi staff and Elders as we discuss Indigenous education over the years and where to from here, followed by lunch.
'Cubawee a Place of Plenty' - documentary screening
Join us for the inaugural documentary screening of ‘Cubawee a Place of Plenty’ led by Uncle Mick Roberts, Senior Widjabul Elder of the Bundjalung nation.
Lismore Campus: Wednesday, 22 July | 2.00pm – 3.30pm | The Campus Grind
Further information:
E: scuiecc@scu.edu.au
P: (02) 6620 3377
We look forward to sharing the world's oldest living culture with the SCU community and hope to see you there.
Learn more
50 Years of Deadly
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.
Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.
NAIDOC has always been more than a week — it’s a platform, a protest, a celebration, and a statement of survival.
This moment is about looking back at the stories, the marches, the languages, the art, the leadership. At the strength it took to get here. It’s about recognising how far we’ve come, not by chance, but because generations of people refused to be silenced.
It’s also about the here and now, who we are today. Grounded in culture. Strong in our identity. Leading change across every field, from health and education to media, business, and the arts. We’re telling our own stories, in our own way, on our own terms.
And it’s about the future. The next 50 years. The young ones growing up proud. The return of language. The return to Country. The fight for justice continuing with new tools, new voices, and the same fire.
Fifty Years of Deadly is a marker, not just of time passed, but of the momentum still building. It’s proof of what our people build when culture leads and community comes first. NAIDOC belongs to mob. It always has.
We honour what came before by continuing the work.
This is our story. This is our celebration. This is our future.
Still deadly. Always.
