NAIDOC Week 2026: 50 Years of Deadly

NAIDOC Week 2026 marked 50 Years of Deadly — a milestone that celebrates the pride, strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To mark this milestone, we invited First Nations people in the SecondBite and FareShare community to share what NAIDOC Week and 50 Years of Deadly means to them.

We are honoured to share those reflections below.

“NAIDOC is a time to come together and share the rich and unique culture of Australia. Family, Community and Connection is at the heart of NAIDOC through bringing mobs together through holding community events and activities.

NAIDOC allows space to share stories, practice culture, and reconcile our differences. This year’s NAIDOC theme is 50 Years of Deadly and the Clothing the Gaps have produced some amazing T-shirts reflecting the timeline history of NAIDOC.

NAIDOC is my favourite time of the year.”

— Leigh Saunders, CEO of the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL) and a proud Bangerang, Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung man.

“To me, this year’s NAIDOC theme is about family standing together and remaining strong in our identity and culture, even when faced with hatred, discrimination, and racism.

It’s about remembering the legacies of those who came before us and paved the way, creating more opportunities for the younger generation. Their strength and resilience inspire us to keep the fire burning for the generations to come.

It reminds us to always remain strong, deadly, and unapologetically Black, no matter the situation. Stand proud. Stand staunch.”

— Andrew Vella-Coolwell, SecondBite First Nations Community Engagement Officer and a proud Gooreng -Gooreng, Mununjali and Gungalu man.

“It’s about carrying a torch. It’s celebrating the culture and the history and also helping the next generation.

It’s not only celebrating the Elders and all the work they’ve done, but the work we still have to do and how we’re picking up that torch and pushing the whole culture forward.

We’re trying to be the change for the next generation because if we do, it gets easier for each generation.”

— Darcy Aiken, a proud Wiradjuri man who recently completed a traineeship at Barrbunin Beek Aboriginal Gathering Place on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne) – working on their SecondBite supported food relief program.

“I call NAIDOC Week Blak Christmas as it’s time for celebrating blak excellence and everything that makes us the people we are today, and to share that culture with everyone else.”

— Joniemarree Marty, Women’s journey walker at Wathaurong Aboriginal Corporation and a proud Wulgurukaba and Mamu woman. Joniemarree visited the FareShare Abbotsford kitchens during NAIDOC Week 2026 to share her lived experience with participants in one of our Meals for the Mob Corporate Volunteering sessions.

“As we celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC, I’m reminded of the power of partnership to create meaningful change.

Our partnership with SecondBite reflects a shared commitment to supporting communities with dignity, care and respect.

Together, we’re helping build stronger, more connected communities for future generations.”

— Sara Stuart, a proud Kamilaroi woman and the Head of Indigenous Affairs at Coles – SecondBite’s Principal Partner.

SecondBite was proud to celebrate with First Nations peoples during NAIDOC Week 2026 and is committed to working together to help address the disproportionately high levels of food insecurity experienced by their communities.

Through our Meals for the Mob Program, we support communities with fresh produce and ready-to-eat meals from our FareShare kitchens. The program works with First Nations communities to improve access to nutritious food in a way that is respectful and responsive to local needs.

We remain committed to listening and learning as we walk alongside communities with respect and a shared commitment to improving food security for First Nations peoples.