This week the National NAIDOC Committee is honouring a legacy that reaches far into the past and extends into the future. This NAIDOC Week is in celebration of a movement that endures, grows, and evolves, and which is driven by the unwavering strength of communities.

2025 Theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. 

Culture is Life

Counselling Online wants to highlight the important work of Aboriginal-led not-for-profit Culture is Life, an organisation dedicated to deepen Young People’s experiences of culture as a protective factor through thoughtfully designed programs, projects, resources and campaigns. 

Culture is Life is a finalist in the 2025 National NAIDOC Awards.

We agree that culture is a crucial factor in improving wellbeing. AOD treatment teams such as Mingu Yabun and Buladu Ngarggu are also increasingly recognising the importance of culture and connection to managing mental health and problems related to drugs and alcohol.

Mingu Yabun Support Program

Mingu Yabun is a specialised and culturally appropriate support program that combines clinical treatment approaches with cultural practices such as yarning circles, narrative therapy, meditation and storytelling. Mingu Yabun is offered by Odyssey House NSW, a publicly-funded organisation that has provided personalised support and professional treatment for those impacted by substance abuse since 1977. The program is offered in both their residential program and their community hubs in Redfern and Hornsby. 

Buladu Ngarrgu (Grow Knowledge) Program (VIC)

Buladu Ngarrgu is a weekly program offered at Odyssey House Victoria's residential program. First Nations residents are invited to reconnect with and explore cultural identity as an important part of their recovery, recognising that many people have been forcefully disconnected from their cultural heritage. The program introduces or reconnects people with dancing and fire ceremonies, important art and music, and links them in with First Nations organisations and cultural events. Odyssey House is operated by Odyssey Victoria, a state-wide specialist treatment organisation for people who experience long-term problems with alcohol and other drug use. Their programs are publicly-funded.

Why is cultural connection important?

Daniel Wilson is an AOD clinician for Odyssey House Victoria. He's also a First Nations man with lived experience of heroin addiction. In 2022, he explained in a Q&A at the Rethink Addiction convention that he felt his ancestors had been the force driving him to seek care for his problem.

“I guess I’m just always open to that [idea], that sometimes we’re guided by things that we don’t truly understand. So, I like to think that it’s my whole life struggle really to reconnect, reclaim my sense of identity, but inside there are intrinsic wisdoms and connections and pools and energies that I think have always guided me.” 

He now works on the Buladu Ngarrgu program and explained in a Q&A with Croaky Health Media it's importance for First Nations people who feel disconnected from community. “They’re coming in, they’ve got that sense of connection to culture, community, art, song, dance, and [we] just do whatever we can really to make people’s recovery journey as successful as possible.”

Specialised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander treatment programs exist throughout Australia. Chat to our counsellors if you'd like help finding one in your state.

NAIDOC Week Education Resources

Counselling Online encourages all Australians to celebrate NAIDOC Week. 

• Support and get to know your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Plan your own event to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Learn more here.

Download resources from the Support NAIDOC Toolkit to display around your workplace, club or community group.

Reach out to us

If any nurse, midwife or student needs support please contact Nurse & Midwife Support on 1800 667 877. We are here for you 24/7 anywhere in Australia.