50 Years of DEADLY!
NAIDOC Week 2026 acknowledges five decades of celebrating the voices, cultures and enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Over the past 50 years, NAIDOC themes have called for truth, celebrated Culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are. NAIDOC Week is one of many opportunities, to acknowledge and show respect to Aboriginal people working in the Tasmanian State Service, their families, Aboriginal Elders and community.
Events for Tasmanian State Servants
Delivered by the Aboriginal Employment Strategy Team in DPACs State Service Management Office, a number of events and activities are being delivered for Tasmanian State Service employees to participate in.
Event #1 - 50 Years! 50 Moments! Of Deadly!
50 Years! 50 Moments! Of Deadly! is a livestreamed presentation showcasing 50 Moments across a 50-Year timeline, including some deadly moments under the TSS Aboriginal Employment Strategy to acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC 2026.
- JOIN the livestream event
- Wednesday 8 July, 10-11am
- Please note this event will not be recorded
Please bring along your head and your heart so you can:
- Listen deep with an open heart and open mind
- Be open and willing to learn
- Challenge your thinking
- Be truthful in your self-reflections, and
- Be willing to make change!
Prior to the event:
- Spread the word and invite your colleagues to this special event
- Book a room and make sure the livestream is linked to your room booking so you can watch on the big screen
- Complete the timeline competition below with your colleagues, as we will go through the answers in the presentation together
Timeline competition - match the event to the correct year!
Your teams task is to create a timeline featuring 50 significant events and milestones in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, both here in Lutruwita/Tasmania and some major national events.
Complete this activity prior to the live event so you can compare your timeline with other state servants, reflect on key moments, and learn more Blak history together. HINT - the artwork in the activity pack will give you clues to some significant events.
Download the timeline activity pack
To enter the competition email your teams completed timeline by 5pm Tuesday 7 July to TSSAboriginalEmploymentStrategy@dpac.tas.gov.au
The winning team will receive 20 'fresh off the press' Aboriginal Employment Strategy lanyards for your team to wear proudly. You will also get bragging rights and a special shout-out in the Aboriginal Employment Newsletter.
Event #2 - A Yarn on Country
A “Yarn on Country” are the personal stories of Aboriginal people working in the Tasmanian State Service developed to support the TSS Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training and presented during NAIDOC Week 2024 and NAIDOC Week 2025.
- A Yarn on Country 2025 – The Next Generation
- A Yarn on Country 2024 – Keep the Fire Burning
There are two screening times that you can join to re-watch these presentations: