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NAIDOC Week 2025

First Steps Count facilitated "Strong Paths" School Holiday Program to celebrate Naidoc Week (6-13 July 2025) funded by Aboriginal Affairs NSW.

The amazing team from Dundaloo Enterprises catered for every session, incorporating bush tucker into their menu for the week.

Weekly schedule for Naidoc Week at First Steps Count Child and Community Centre.

Monday: A morning of messy play

A girl with blonde hair holding a wooden box containing various types of beans, with an outdoor setting and a house in the background.
Children playing a game on a raised outdoor table in a backyard with trees and a small wooden bridge.
A woman and a young child playing with small toy animal figures and sticks in a sandbox outdoors on a sunny day.

Tuesday: We had a visit from Beth who is a TIDE Aboriginal Ranger and she did an awesome interactive bush tucker and bush medicine presentation. We then planted some beautiful natives in our garden.

Group of children and adults gathered outdoors in a grassy area surrounded by trees, participating in a group activity. Children are sitting on a blue mat, with some adults standing or sitting nearby. Some smiling emoji overlays are present over parts of the image.
A group of children and adults planting trees and gardening on a sloped, earthy yard in front of the First Steps Count building.

Wednesday: Hat painting

A young girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles, wearing a white bucket hat with colourful stripes, standing indoors.
A young girl with curly hair and freckles is sitting at a table outdoors, enjoying a craft activity on a sunny day.
Outdoor gathering with children and adults, tables set up with art supplies, surrounded by trees outside the First Steps Count building.

Thursday: Art with Janine from Taree Universities Campus and Hanna from Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service

People, including children, participating in an outdoor craft activity at a long wooden table outside the First Steps Count building on a sunny day.
A young girl is sitting at a table, using a wooden tool to create a design. She's sitting outside in the First Steps Count outdoor play area on a sunny day.
A girl using a rolling pin to flatten clay that has a leaf imprint.
A group of children and an adult engaging in arts and crafts at a table outdoors, with colourful paper, markers, and markers on the table.

Friday: NAIDOC Community Day at Purfleet. Thank you Biripi ACMC for hosting such a wonderful day.

People sitting and talking under a blue canopy tent at an outdoor community event with tables, chairs, and various items on display.
People participating in an outdoor event with tents, tables, and chairs on a grassy field. A woman and a child are at a table on the left, engaging in an activity. On the right, another woman is seated at a small table with art supplies, including markers and paper.

Acknowledgements

Outline drawing of two baby footprints in yellow.
NSW Government Aboriginal Affairs logo.

First Steps Count would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Aboriginal Affairs NSW for their generous support of the Strong Paths School Holiday program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Yellow highlighter writing a curly line.

  • We partnered with:

    • Hunter New England Health

    • Taree Universities Campus

    • TIDE

    • Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service (MVNS)

  • The theme of NAIDOC Week 2025 was “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, celebrating 50 years of Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience, and highlighting the power of young leaders guided by the wisdom of past generations.