NAIDOC Event

Join us for a great day of performances, cultural workshops, market stalls, talks, a free community BBQ, and more.

Our free Penrith NAIDOC Event returns to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and heritage! The event is alcohol free.  

Event program 

Main Stage and Dance Circle sponsored by YarnnUp – Bowel screening get behind it!

• Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Uncle Colin Locke 
• Wagana Dance Group 
• Khauna Dance Group  
• First Nations hip hop artist Baba T 
• Cianna Walker and Olivia Coe Fox dynamic First Nations duo 
• Nararng Bir-rong Dance group
• Nepean CAPA Babuga Dungarra Dance Group
• Springwood High Diatti Dancers
• Bush cooking demonstrations 

Workshops  

• Kinship art project supported by Aboriginal Affairs
• Make and take aboriginal art by Dalmarri Sponsored by Reconciliation NSW

Caring for Country corridor sponsored by Western Sydney Airport

• Caring for Country workshops
• Bungaribee Wildlife Workshop presented by Sydney Zoo
• Bush tucker plants
• Weaving workshop
• Make your own beehive
• Ephemeral art
• Native plant propagation and care presented by Muru Mittigar
• Pollinators and their link to biodiversity presented by Council's Bushcare team
• Traditional dance lessons

Artisan market stalls 

• Annie’s Creations 
• Baagi Milaygiin 
• Bellarex Knits and Crafts 
• Caressa Designs  
• Deadly Unique Designs  
• Gulbi Threads 
• Jeanette Cooney 
• Mara Designs 
• Maureen Silleri 
• Mudjin Aboriginal Arts 
• Ngarang Gung Gung 
• Ngurrbul Collection 
• Nulla Home 
• Oj’s Aboriginal Art 
• Sharon Kirby 
• Tidda Girl  
• Tidda Tea Dolls  
• Warami Wood Art 
• Wattarah 
• Wiradjuri Aura and Textured Thoughts 
• Wiradjuri Dreaming 
• Yaingayaingarra 

Health Precinct 

• Diabetes 
• Dental checks  
• Mootang Tarami bus  
• Mr Germ 
• Palliative and cancer care  
• Integrated violence prevention and response service 
• Closing the Gap  
• Podiatry  
• Alcohol and other drugs  
• Mental health  
• Sexual health  
• Building Stronger Foundations  
• Aboriginal infant maternal health services 
• YarnnUp — Bowel screening 

Free BBQ lunch

First Nations food trucks

• Screaming Beans will have coffee, burgers and chips.
• Kath’s Ice Cream
• Native Botanical Brewery (native infused food and beverage) Please note that the event is an alcohol free event.
• Dreamtime Desserts

Sport

• Traditional Indigenous games
• Deadly Touch Tag presented by SRAC
• Netball skills, drills and games

Information & Lost Children Area

Start at the Blue Information stall as you enter the netball courts. Here you will meet friendly Penrith Council staff. They can help you find your way around the event site. Carers can pick up a Kids ID Wristband to assist reuniting children with carers if they become separated at the event.

Amenities 

• The event is held on concrete netball courts.
• There will be men’s, women’s, and accessible toilets available throughout the event site.
• Other amenities include a calm space and a breastfeeding tent with a baby change table.
• There will be water stations available at the event site for refilling bottles.

Quiet Time

To support neurodiversity and sensory needs, from 9am to 9:30am, the stage and speaker system will not be used, noise will be reduced where possible to provide a quiet hour. There is a calm area available all day. There is also a dedicated quiet zone with sensory activities and colouring in activities available throughout the day

Thank you to our sponsors

• Gold Sponsor – Get Behind It! Bowel Cancer Screening in partnership with YarnnUp
• Silver Sponsor – Western Sydney Airport
• Bronze Sponsors – Reconciliation NSW, Banarang, and Aboriginal Affairs NSW

Getting to NAIDOC

By car

There is free parking along internal roads and car parks of Jamison Park. Street parking is available in local streets.

Additional Elder and accessible parking spots will be available at Jamison Park. Enter from Batt Street. Should spaces be full, a drop off zone is also available in this car park.

By public transport

The nearest train station is Penrith Station.

The 793 bus runs a loop service from Penrith Station (Stand C) to South Penrith The bus runs every hour and makes several stops around Jamison Park.

For more information and to plan your trip, please use Trip Planner.

Additional Support at NAIDOC

In Penrith we have a diverse community. We aim to ensure everyone feels welcome to participate. If you (or someone you are bringing) might need additional support to attend or experience NAIDOC, please contact majorevents@penrith.city or text Marcela 0423 651 311 on the day of the event. 

This year’s theme

The Next Generations: Strength, Vision and Legacy celebrates the achievements of the past and the bright future ahead, focusing on the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. You can read more about the theme on the NAIDOC website.

Other NAIDOC events to explore:

BLAK DOUGLAS Film and Exhibition

Blak Douglas vs The Commonwealth Film

Location: The Q Theatre, The Joan,

Date/Time: Tuesday 8 July, 7:00pm

Find out more and book at The Joan.

Blak Douglas Exhibition: The Halfway Line

Location: Penrith Regional Gallery until July 20

Date/Time: Monday 7 to Friday 11 July 2025, 10am to 4pm

Drop-in style art-making activities in response to the exhibition.

Find out more and book at the Penrith Regional Gallery.

Bungarribee Wildlife Workshops with Sydney Zoo

Explore Australia’s wildlife through First Nations perspectives with Sydney Zoo’s Bungarribee Wildlife Workshop.

Date: Thursday 17 July

Time: Sessions at 10:30am to 11:30am and 12pm to 1pm

Ages: 5-12 years

Book via Penrith City Libraries.

Artwork by Dalmarri.