From poetry slams and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancing to painting and panel discussions, NAIDOC Week at Flinders University is a special time to celebrate the rich heritage  of Australia’s First Peoples.

The Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) has designed a diverse program of culturally-focused activities for NAIDOC Week at Flinders this year, which will run from 28-31 August.

All students and staff are invited to get involved.

Though NAIDOC Week is typically celebrated in the first week of July, the University has moved its NAIDOC celebrations to a time when students are not on their mid-year break and can enjoy the full range of activities on offer.

Flinders’ NAIDOC celebrations will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 10.00am at the front of the Registry Building on 28 August.

The week-long festivities will also include panel discussions, dancing, painting and poetry.

Amongst the events that are sure to be of particular interest to students and staff:

Indigenous Heart Health Talk

Tuesday 29 August at 6.30pm at the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre Complex

Mr Jayme Bennetts, cardiothoracic surgeon and Director of the Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Unit from Flinders Medical Centre, and Dr Phil Tideman, cardiologist and Director of the Integrated Cardiovascular Clinical Network SA (iCCnet SA), will be speaking about Indigenous cardiovascular issues.

They will explain how the Cardiac Surgery team at Flinders works together with the Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Unit to provide Indigenous patients from South Australia and the Northern Territory with the specialist care that they need.

Poetry Slam

Thursday 31 August at 6.00pm at The Tavern

Themed around the subject, ‘Our Languages Matter’, the Poetry Slam features book prizes donated by Magabala Books and Wakefield Press.

Want to know more?

Further information about Flinders’ NAIDOC celebrations is available on Facebook or by contacting Yaritji Green at FUSA via email at indigenous.officer@flinders.edu.au.