NAIDOC Week 2025

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

This year marks a significant milestone - 50 years since the first national NAIDOC celebrations in 1975. Over the past five decades, NAIDOC Week has grown into a powerful movement for celebrating Indigenous voices, leadership, and resilience.

The 2025 theme recognises the powerful role that young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play in carrying forward the strength of their Elders, the vision of their communities, and the legacy of their ancestors. It calls on all Australians to support and empower Indigenous youth as they shape the future of their cultures, communities, and this country.

For the Faculty of Engineering, this theme resonates with our ongoing work to inspire and support the next generation of Indigenous engineers, researchers, and innovators. Whether through inclusive curriculum design, community-led engineering projects, or pathways for Indigenous student success, we contribute to building a future where Indigenous knowledge systems and engineering excellence come together.

This week is an opportunity to reflect on how our disciplines can work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a future grounded in respect, sustainability, and innovation.

Associate Dean (Indigenous) Associate Professor Shannon-Kilmartin Lynch says “NAIDOC Week reminds us that engineering is not just about building structures, but about building futures.

When we listen to the strength, vision, and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we open the door to innovations grounded in Country, culture, and community. The next generation of engineers will shape a future where Indigenous knowledge and engineering excellence walk hand in hand.”

Learn more about NAIDOC Week events and The William Cooper Institute at Monash University here.

Visit Monash Engineering Indigenous Engagement here.