Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

Celebrating Indigenous Australian-Papua New Guinea linkages

The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby is hosting a special program of events through to Thursday 19 July in celebration of the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee or NAIDOC Week.

The program began on Monday 9 July with a ceremony at the High Commission to raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag.

This year two exceptional Indigenous Australian women have been invited to participate in the program – Stephanie Harvey, Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers and rising star in the music industry, Emily Wurramara.

The two week program includes the formalisation of a partnership  between Papua New Guinea’s National Volunteer Service and Indigenous Community Volunteers and a creative collaboration between Emily Wurramara and Papua New Guinea’s top female artist, Mereani Masani, which includes performing for and mentoring youth in performance skills.

NAIDOC Week first emerged in the 1920s when Aboriginal groups sought to increase awareness on the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Because Of Her, We Can!’ celebrates the important role that women have played, and continue to play, as active and significant role models at all levels of society.

For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100

Australian High Commission Second Secretary; Yasmine Davis, National Volunteer Service Acting Executive Director; Molly Willie, National Volunteer Service Council Chairman; Bernard Maladina, Secretary for Department for Community Development and Religion; Anna Solomon, Australian High Commissioner; Bruce Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV); Stephanie Harvey, Co-Chairman of ICV Board; Bill Edwards, ICV General Manager for Business Development and Innovation; Tom Layton and Australian High Commission Second Secretary; Jacqueline Herbert.

Raising of the flags; from (L-R); Australian High Commission Second Secretary; Yasmine Davis raising the Torres Strait Islander flag, Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers; Stephanie Harvey raising the Aboriginal flag and Australian High Commissioner; Bruce Davis raising the Australian flag.