NAIDOC Week (5-12 July 2026) is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our First Nations Peoples and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.  

The origins of NAIDOC Week can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement. On Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney about the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This protest was one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world and it became known as the ‘Day of Mourning’.

Between 1940 and 1955 the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was commonly known as ‘Aborigines Day’. In 1955 it was decided that Aborigines Day should include a celebration of Aboriginal culture, heritage and achievement. This is now celebrated as NAIDOC Week, which highlights the achievements of Indigenous people all over Australia.1

Today, NAIDOC Week is a thriving celebration of First Peoples and its cultures. 2026 marks five decades of NAIDOC Week - a significant milestone and statement of survival – with the theme being ‘50 Years of Deadly’.

There are many different ways to engage with and learn more about First Nations cultures during NAIDOC Week. We’ve compiled some resources for you below to help you begin your planning!

Language

• Learn some First Nations words through the 50 Words Project.

The written word

A wonderful way to begin learning about Australia’s First Nations is through the written word, and there are some great resources online to help you begin your journey:

• NAIDOC Week reading list from the City of Melbourne
• Books by UQP’s First Nations authors
• Goodread’s NAIDOC Week reading list.

On-screen storytelling

• SBS and NITV have put together a powerful week of First Nations storytelling, culture and connection
• A curated list of First Nations stories on screen from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTR)
• The ABC will host NAIDOC celebrations on both screen and radio, with a translation of five episodes of Bluey into Yolŋu Matha, the First Nations language of Northeast Arnhem Land, being a feature highlight. They also have their First Nations Cinema accessible for free on iView.

In person

• The Wheeler Centre is hosting a NAIDOC Week exhibition, My Special Place, with all artworks available for purchase (5-11 July)
• Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House is running a free screening of The Sapphires, 2pm-4pm, Mon 6 July
• From a reading party to an upcycling workshop, the City of Melbourne is hosting several activities at their libraries across the CBD between 6-10 July
• ACMI has some special storytelling, including:
  • Micro-talks with First Nations artist Mick Harding (10.30am & 2.30pm, Tues 7 July)
  • NAIDOC Week shorts (7pm, Thurs 9 July), and
  • A matinee viewing of Top End Bub (10-12 July)
• Maribyrnong City Council is hosting a Family Day and Blak Market at Braybrook Community Hub, 10.30am-2pm, Wed 8 July
• The Melbourne NAIDOC Week March is also back! It starts at 12pm, Fri 10 July, beginning at the VAHS building in Nicholson Street, Fitzroy
• Federation Square has a number of exciting activities, including:
  • NAIDOC in the City concert (12pm-5.30pm, Fri 10 July), and
  • NAIDOC Week Market (1pm-6pm, Fri 10 July)

And many more can be found on the NAIDOC website.

1 Source: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Five-Fast-Facts-NAIDOC-Week.pdf

RESOLVED: StudentWeb login issue – Friday 19 June

The login issue affecting StudentWeb has now been resolved. Students should be able to sign in as normal.

Any further issues with StudentWeb access, please contact the IT Serivce Desk – 03 9286 9465.

StudentWeb login issue – Friday 19 June

We are currently experiencing a login issue with StudentWeb – Friday 19 June. Students are receiving an error when attempting to sign in. 

We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore normal access as quickly as possible.

We will provide a further update once more information is available or when the issue has been resolved.

Student Satisfaction Survey

Thank you to everyone who filled in our recent Student Satisfaction Survey. Your feedback helps us understand what we're doing well - as well as what we could be doing better - and helps us make sure we're always working towards giving our students the best experience possible.

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Congratulations to our Student Awards finalists! 

The BHI Student Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students. 

Each year, the Awards shine a spotlight on the students who consistently go above and beyond in the classroom, their community and their workplace. 

We look forward to announcing the winners at the BHI Recognition and Awards gala later this month.  

Congratulations to each of our finalists!

Meet the BHI Student Awards finalists.  

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Free access to counselling with a registered psychologist or social worker

Are you experiencing personal or study-related concerns and aren’t sure where to turn?

Counselling offers a safe space to talk openly and without judgement about any concerns, such as thoughts, feelings, experiences, behaviours, financial hardship, accommodation concerns, special consideration applications, time management, study strategies and much more.

Students have access to personal counselling with a registered psychologist or social worker. This service is free, confidential and highly accessible, with no referral required. We now have counsellors available at our Elgar, Nelson, Lilydale and City campuses.

To book an appointment, you can either drop in to your nearest Student Wellbeing Office, contact Student Life on 9286 9891 or use the booking link on StudentWeb.

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Celebrating NAIDOC Week

National NAIDOC Week, which is taking place from 5 – 12 July 2026, 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.

This year marks five decades of NAIDOC Week. This year's theme,‘50 Years of Deadly’, is a significant milestone and a statement of survival.

We’ve gathered some resources for you to explore in case you want to learn more or find ways to take part.

You can also read about BHI’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

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‘Heart of TAFE' photo competition - win $5,000!

The Australian Education Union's annual photography competition invites TAFE students to take photos that depict 'The Heart of TAFE'.

Impress the judges you’re your creativity – be it natural snaps, selfies or fully staged shots. Tell a powerful visual story about the life-changing opportunities that TAFE offers.

One lucky TAFE student will win the $5,000 grand prize and have their image published in TAFE Teacher magazine. Each state-based winner will also receive $1,000 and a trip to Canberra, where their work will feature in an exhibition at Parliament House.

Entries close 22 July 2026.

For inspiration and to enter, visit the AEU's photography competition website. 

The BHI Student Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of students across the Institute. 

Each year, the Awards shine a spotlight on the students who consistently go above and beyond in the classroom, their community and their workplace. They acknowledge their hard work and the positive impact they have on those around them. 

The winner will be announced at the BHI Recognition and Awards gala, taking place on Thursday 25 June 2026 at Crown Towers.  

Congratulations to each of our finalists listed below.  

Great news for BHI students!

The Journal Café, located on the ground floor of Building C1 at our CBD campus, is offering 25% off food and beverages for Box Hill Institute students.

To receive the discount, simply show your BHI Student ID when ordering.

Take advantage of this fantastic offer next time you're on campus and enjoy great food and drinks at a reduced price.

Enjoy!