Post by International Women's Development Agency (IWDA)

This past Monday, IWDA closed our office in recognition of NAIDOC Week. In 2021, IWDA staff chose to stop recognising 26 January as a public holiday. We made this decision because of the day's significance, marking the beginning of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a day of mourning, pain and survival, not celebration. Instead, we take this time during NAIDOC Week to honour and celebrate the histories, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This decision is one way we stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of our ongoing commitment to decolonise our practice, support First Nations justice, and embed anti-racism in all that we do. Wondering if your workplace can substitute the 26 January public holiday? Find out more about how this works through Clothing The Gaps' explainer: https://loom.ly/tJup2-E Learn more about this year’s theme: https://loom.ly/G-nQSb8 Join a celebration near you: https://loom.ly/Qj-pX6k