National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
ABC is the official broadcast partner, with two simulcasts with NITV / SBS on Demand: NAIDOC Awards and Little J & Big Cuz.
ABC
Head ABC Indigenous Kelrick Martin said, “The ABC is proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2024, with a variety of compelling, entertaining content for all Australians. During NAIDOC Week, and every week throughout the year, we recognise and uplift First Nations stories from around the country, and champion our incredibly talented Indigenous content creators and presenters.”
2024 NAIDOC Awards
from Tarndanya (Adelaide)
7.30pm Saturday
As the Official Broadcast and Education Partner for NAIDOC week, the ABC will telecast the NAIDOC Awards on Saturday night hosted by Total Control star Rob Collins, 10 News First presenter Narelda Jacobs, and comedian Steph Tisdell. MTV and ARIA award-winning musician Jess Mauboy will headline the night’s entertainment and the ceremony will be streamed on ABC iview and simulcast on NITV.
Rage
Join First Nations hip-hop supergroup 3% as they play their favourite music videos this NAIDOC Week on rage on Saturday from 10:30am and midnight on ABC TV.
The Last Daughter
Premiering on ABC TV on Saturday after the NAIDOC Awards, The Last Daughter is a documentary about Brenda’s journey to unearth the truth about her past, and to reconcile the two sides of her family. Brenda’s first memories were of growing up in a loving white foster family, before she was suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family. Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life.
Big J & Little Cuz
Season 4 – ABC Kids
Launching on Monday on ABC Kids, ABC iview and NITV, Big J and Little Cuz draws on stories from First Nations writers all over Australia and features the voices of Deborah Mailman (Big Cuz), Miranda Tapsell (Little J) , Aaron Fa’Aoso (Old Dog), Ursula Yovich (Nanna and Levi), Shari Sebbens (Sissy & B Boy), Mark Coles Smith (Uncle Mick), Renee Lim (Ms Chen), Miah Madden (Monti), Shakira Clanton (Mirra & Kirra), Katie Beckett (George & Jacko) and Kylie Bracknell (Ally). This season marks 50 episodes of Little J & Big Cuz.
ABC iview Collection
Popular Indigenous programs curated for audiences including the 2024 NAIDOC Awards, BlakBall, Black comedy, Preppers, looking Black and First Weapons.
Additional news, and insights about NAIDOC Week and broader issues affecting First Nations Peoples will be available across the week on ABC News, ABC TV and ABC Radio, as part of the ABC’s ongoing commitment to telling and sharing Indigenous stories.
NITV
Sounds of Solidarity: NAIDOC
Saturday, 6 July at 4.30pm
Returning for a special NAIDOC Week show, join hosts Naomi Wenitong, Jimblah and Andy Saunders for a three-hour program featuring some of the best Indigenous music and entertainment alongside thought-provoking chats. This edition of Sounds of Solidarity was filmed in Port Lincoln, South Australia, at Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association.
National NAIDOC Awards 2024
Saturday, 6 July at 7.30pm on NITV, ABC and SBS On Demand
Live from Tarndanya (Adelaide) on Kaurna Yerta, the awards will be hosted by acclaimed actor Rob Collins, proud Whadjuk Noongar woman, Network 10 and NITV presenter, Narelda Jacobs, and comedian Steph Tisdell. ARIA award-winning musician Jessica Mauboy will headline the night’s entertainment. The Awards recognise outstanding contributions made by Indigenous Australians to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples, promote Indigenous issues in the wider community and recognise First Nations excellence.
Elder-In-Residence Oration 2024
Sunday, 7 July at 6.30pm
Reflecting on the 2024 NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, and filmed on Mabo Day 2024 – Rhoda Roberts AO, a proud Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Nation, delivers her second oration as SBS’s Elder–in-Residence. Rhoda is joined by prominent Wiradjuri journalist, Stan Grant, and features an in-depth interview where Grant speaks about wide-ranging issues including the state of the media today, world politics, and his personal journey. Torres Strait Islander actor and producer Aaron Fa’Aoso also gives a stirring introduction, paying tribute to Eddie “Koiki” Mabo.
Little J & Big Cuz
Season 4 NITV Commission
Weekdays at 6.05pm from Monday 8 July (contd. weeknights) on NITV and SBS On Demand
Little J (Miranda Tapsell), he’s five and Big Cuz (Deborah Mailman), she’s nine. They’re a couple of First Nations Australian kids living with their Nanna (Ursula Yovich) and Old Dog (Aaron Fa’Aoso). Little J and Big Cuz are busy with the ups and downs of playground and classroom, and there’s always something surprising going on, whether it’s at school, in the backyard…or beyond. The gaps in Nanna’s ramshackle fence lead to Saltwater, Desert and Freshwater Country, and with the help of Nanna and their teacher Ms Chen (Renee Lim), Little J and Big Cuz are finding out about community, Country and culture.
Living Black
Monday, 8 July at 8.30pm on NITV
Episode Twelve: Emily Wurramara – Magic Woman Singing
Emily Wurramara lost everything in a house fire in 2018 and nearly gave up on her music career during the pandemic. Now the singer-songwriter is back with a new album and refuses to be contained by any one genre. Karla speaks with the talented musician from Groote Eylandt about her life and career, working with the Wiggles, and giving Karla the low down on her new music, including where she drew her inspiration to create this remarkable sound.
Sydney Opera House Presents: Generations & Dynasties final
Monday, 8 July at 9.00pm on NITV
Sydney Opera House Presents: Generations and Dynasties combines conversation, storytelling and song. The mini-series explores the rich tapestry of storytelling in First Nations culture, passed down from parents to children and among siblings. Like the symbolic passing of the story stick, each event reflects the importance of family, community, and culture. It’s a chance to honour these trailblazers and look at the creative journey across generations.
Episode Three:
Join Troy Cassar-Daley and Jem Cassar-Daley, in conversation and performance at the Sydney Opera House as part of Generations and Dynasties, an intimate series of storytelling and music celebrating First Nations families and culture.
The Point: Road Trip
Tuesday, 9 July at 7.30pm on NITV
The Point is the home of First Nations perspectives. In this new season of panel discussions, the program becomes The Point: Road Trip, travelling the country to hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. Join proud Wuthathi and Meriam man and National Indigenous Affairs Editor, John Paul Janke, for honest and insightful discussions about the challenges facing Indigenous communities, as well as highlighting community led solutions to drive change. Whadjuk Noongar woman, Network Ten’s Narelda Jacobs OAM (10 News First: Midday and 10 News First: Afternoons) will feature in the program throughout the season.
Episode One:
In this first episode, The Point: Road Trip travels to Mparntwe, Alice Springs, elevating the voices of youths, with an open discussion about their challenges, escalating crime, curfews, and the political response.
Big Backyard Quiz
Saturday, 13 July at 7.30pm on NITV
Hosted by Narelda Jacobs OAM and Steven Oliver, featuring a series of games and quiz rounds, test your knowledge about all aspects of the Australian experience – the people, the land, food, music and sport. Two teams of three fight it out to decide who will win! This comedic quiz show looks at the people and history of Australia through a Blak lens, the way we were not taught in school. Join team captains Barkaa and Dave Woodhead, and contestant panellists Tom Ballard, Ivan Aristeguieta, Tegan Higginbotham, and Nina Oyama. Big Backyard Quiz is executive produced by Anthony Watt (Spicks and Specks, Full Frontal) and Daniel Gallahar (NITV).
NAIDOC Week Collection
NITV is celebrating NAIDOC Week with specially curated content, including films, documentaries and more.
Gulpilil: One Red Blood
Sunday, 7 July at 7.30pm Gulpilil: One Red Blood explores the two lives of David Dalaithngu Gulpilil AM: his family life in Arnhem Land and his other life as a respected film actor.
Rebel With A Cause (Episode One)
Monday, 8 July at 7.30pm
Pat O’Shane AM defied the odds becoming one of the most brilliant legal game changers the country has ever seen. Now 80, Pat is on the trail of her ambitious Federal election campaign, retracing along the way her exceptional leadership credentials and unstoppable gusto.
History Bites Back
Tuesday, 9 July at 8.30pm
Trisha Morton-Thomas teams up with Elaine Crombie and Steven Oliver to bite back at negative social media comments. History Bites Back is comical, self-aware, and not afraid to launch a rocket into taboo issues.
True Colours (Episode Two)
Thursday, 11 July at 8.30pm
Detective Toni Alma (Rarriwuy Hick) investigates a suspicious car accident in an Aboriginal community, Perdar Theendar, requiring her to navigate between two laws and identify a killer who may be very close to home.
Other highlights include: Walkabout (Sunday, 7 July at 8.35pm), Sing About This Country (Monday, 8 July at 10.30pm), Lionel (Wednesday, 10 July at 8.00pm), Samson and Delilah (Wednesday, 10 July at 9.30pm), Jedda (Thursday, 11 July at 11.10pm), Rabbit Proof Fence (Friday, 12 Friday at 7.30pm) and Bran Nue Dae (Saturday. 13 July at 8.30pm).
links to content on ABC
TV Tonight
