Media Release
Sunday 7 July 2024
This NAIDOC week (7-14 July), Positive Life NSW celebrates the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous nations and cultures across this continent with this year’s NAIDOC theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
We join all Australians in acknowledging our country’s true custodians and one of the oldest continuing cultures on our shared planet.
As an Aboriginal man of the Kamilaroi Nation living with HIV, and Positive Life NSW Positive Speaker, Tim Moffitt reminds us this NAIDOC week that, “HIV still disproportionately burdens Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“Our mainstream public health approaches must invest in Aboriginal communal wellbeing, to address the social determinants of health including culture, kinship and belonging,” said Jane Costello, Positive Life CEO.
“This NAIDOC Week, let’s take accountability for the long history of colonisation, dispossession, and intergenerational trauma that has significantly impacted every facet of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said Ms Costello.
“The 2024 theme, ‘Blak, Loud and Proud’ encapsulates our unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world,” said Mr Moffitt.
“This theme calls us all, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to reflect on the enduring legacy of the First Nations people who have owned, occupied, and cared for this land for more than 65,000 years and continue to do so,” he said.
Sovereignty was never ceded.
NAIDOC Week 2024 runs from 7-14 July 2024 and is an opportunity to amplify Indigenous voices, and ignite a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that enriches our nation.
Positive Life NSW is celebrating NAIDOC week with the proudly 100% Aboriginal owned and operated Koori Kinnections, in a celebration of culture over a lunchtime Aboriginal cooking class with community members living with HIV on Saturday 13 July 2024. For more information, call Positive Life NSW on (02) 8357 8386 or 1800 245 677 (freecall outside metro).
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Costello, CEO – 1800 245 677 or email communications@positivelife.org.au
Positive Life NSW is the largest peer-led and run representative body of all people living with HIV in Australia based in NSW. We make a significant contribution to, and positive impact across the spectrum of health and social issues on behalf of all people living with HIV in collaboration with HIV specialist and mainstream services to improve the health and quality of life of all people living with HIV in NSW. We do this through evidence-based health promotion, research, policy advice and peer support.
