For the next week, people across the country will celebrate the outstanding contributions of First Nations people to the culture, history and future of the nation.

This year’s theme “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud” brings together an important symbol for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – fire – and encourages Indigenous people to make their voices and vital messages heard, while encouraging non-Indigenous people to listen and learn respectfully.

“The resilience of mob, our shared experiences, collective memories and kinship is a source of tremendous pride,” NAIDOC Committee co-chair Aunty Lynette (Dr) Riley said.

“This year’s theme is a clarion call to continued unity and solidarity for all Australians to come together and celebrate.”

Here are a few ways to join the week-long celebrations and practise financial wellness, too.

Get inspired by NAIDOC Award winners

Whether you’re early in your career and looking for advice and motivation or simply want to be proud of some pretty inspiring people, it’s worth reading the stories of this year’s NAIDOC Award winners.

Take for example Tui Nolan, an incredible innovator and machine learning expert who is helping make life easier for people with diabetes.  You can read more about Tui and other winners here (link).

Attend or host an event

Across the week, hundreds of events will celebrate Indigenous people and culture. Depending on where you live, there’s likely to be an event near you, where you can join in on the celebrations, hear new stories, learn something new and add to the conversation. A list of the events can be found here (link).

Support First Nations creatives and businesses

A great way to celebrate NAIDOC Week is by listening and sharing the stories of other First Nations people. There are lots of ways to do that, some of which can help to create financial wellness too. For example, listening to a First Nations podcast to learn more about money, such as Rich Blak Women (link), and supporting First Nations-run businesses to thrive (you can find lots on Supply Nation – link).