NAIDOC Week 2026: Belgravia Leisure celebrates culture, connection and community for 50 Years of Deadly

From 5 to 12 July, Belgravia Leisure joins communities across Australia in acknowledging and supporting NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week 2026, celebrating the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week and recognises generations of strength, leadership, culture, resilience and achievement.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect, commit and celebrate. Across Belgravia Leisure, teams are supporting the week in ways that recognise the communities they serve, working alongside local council partners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and community groups to support respectful, locally relevant action.

Group Manager Access and Inclusion, Damian Gorman, said NAIDOC Week is an important time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reflect on the role organisations can play in supporting reconciliation.

“NAIDOC Week is a time to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and achievements,” Damian said.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to keep listening, keep learning and commit to taking ongoing meaningful action through our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, CultureWise, employment pathways, local partnerships and the everyday work of our teams across communities.” 

This year, Belgravia Leisure launched CultureWise, a leisure industry first free online Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness program developed in partnership with PathHunting and supported by the Belgravia Foundation.

Since launching to team members in June, CultureWise has recorded more than 780 completions, with early results showing a 23% increase in team member knowledge to welcome, support and include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in leisure.

The program is helping build practical understanding and confidence across leisure, aquatics, recreation, fitness, sport, tourism and wellness, supporting Belgravia Leisure’s ongoing commitment to culturally safe and inclusive environments.

Building stronger career pathways and partnerships

Belgravia Leisure has also continued to strengthen employment pathways and community relationships through initiatives such as the Be Deadly Jobs Expo, where team members connected with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers, community organisations and employment partners.

These efforts are supported by positive workforce data, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation across Belgravia Leisure team members reaching 4.0% in 2026, increasing from previous census rounds and remaining above the national average.

These pathways are also reflected in the stories of team members like Clinton Day, known as Mr Day, whose work at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre highlights the role community venues can play in creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.

Supporting NAIDOC Week through local partnerships 

At a local level, teams are acknowledging NAIDOC Week through venue-based activities, council-aligned initiatives and community-led events, recognising that meaningful support is strongest when it is guided by local relationships and community context.

In Tasmania, Smithton Wellbeing Indoor Recreation and Leisure (SWIRL) will share daily NAIDOC facts, create a reception display and run a colouring-in competition, while team members also plan to attend a local event hosted by Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation.

Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre (TRAC) and Mill Park Leisure will share NAIDOC Week messaging across venue screens, social media and websites, while continuing to explore opportunities to support local community celebrations.

At MOVE Moonee Valley, the team will host a culturally inclusive morning tea catered by Jarrah Catering, a First Nations-owned company known for native, locally sourced ingredients and food that helps spark conversation, connection and culture.

Damian said genuine inclusion is built through consistency, respect, and relationships, and meaningful action, all of which builds improved confidence and trust and the foundation for a brighter future for all.

“This work is ongoing. It comes from being present, listening, learning and working alongside community.

“As we mark 50 Years of Deadly, we acknowledge the strength, leadership and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reaffirm our commitment to creating more inclusive places for our teams, members, guests and communities,” Damian concluded.

To learn more about NAIDOC Week 2026, this year’s theme and ways to get involved, visit the official NAIDOC website. 

Learn more about Belgravia Leisure’s commitment to social inclusion here.

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