Latest news with #NAIDOCweek
ABC News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
BTN Newsbreak 11/07/2025
AGE VERIFICATION There's been a lot of talk about age verification for the teen social media ban. But soon, every Aussie, no matter how old they are, will have to confirm their age to use the internet. So, how will this go down? Well, from the 27th of December, everyone who goes online to look something up or use social media will have to verify their age. This new regulation would ensure those under 18 years of age won't be able to see adult content and high-impact violence when surfing the web. It's not just the inconvenience; some experts reckon these new moves could be a risk to Australians' privacy. Tech platforms will be able to choose how they verify ages, like face scanning or photo ID. If the companies don't follow the new rules, they'll face fines of almost $50 million per breach. NAIDOC WEEK CELEBRATIONS Hundreds of people gathered in the Northern Territory today to celebrate NAIDOC week. In Alice Springs, locals of all ages marched for this year's NAIDOC theme 'Strength, Vision and Legacy.' With a focus on the next generation. Celebrations included a flag raising, smoking ceremonies, wood carving, and kids' crafts. Further north, hundreds more marched through Darwin city and were also treated to performances from local Indigenous artists. FISHING INFLUENCER The New South Wales Government has teamed up with a TikTok creator to get more young Aussies to take up fishing! Fishing has got a lot of Aussie teenagers hooked. Recently, a bunch of them met up in Sydney for a chance to meet Peter Phung, better known as Shrooms. For the last 5 years, he's been sharing fishing videos, a genre that's taking off in Australia. There's even a name for this online community, FishTok. The New South Wales Government is keen to make the most of the trend and partnered with Shrooms for this first-of-its-kind FishTok meetup, to expand their Get Hooked program. MOO DENGS BIRTHDAY To Thailand, for Moo Deng's first birthday! Fans of the famous pygmy hippo travelled from all over the world, sporting some very appropriate celebratory attire. Happy birthday you moist potato! DINO DISCOVERY Over to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in America, which is known for its dinosaur displays. Little did the museum know, they had a dinosaur fossil hiding underneath their carpark this whole time! They stumbled upon the fossil while doing some drilling for a different project and it's now on display in the museum. PADDLE PUPS In Australia, these pooches have been given a very cool job. The Paddle Pups, yes that's actually what they're called, are specially trained to sniff out platypuses in the wild, working alongside scientists at Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary to help with their conservation efforts.
ABC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Annual NAIDOC round showcases next generation in Physical Disability Rugby League
It's a cliché, but sport really was the winner in the annual Combined Indigenous All Stars versus All Stars Physical Disability Rugby League fixture. While the rules may be different, the action on the field at Redfern Oval on Sunday was every bit recognisable as rugby league. There were length-of-the-field tries, chip-and-chase kicks, and big-hit tackles. The Combined Indigenous All Stars players were hoping to hold the shield for an unprecedented third straight year. Bill Bussell is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri man who also lives with cerebral palsy. Bill is one of the most respected players in the game with over 100 PDRL appearances to his name. Doctors told Bill's mother, Kay, that he would never walk, talk or live past the age of 10. Yet the player affectionately known as "Bunyip" by his teammates recently celebrated his 48th birthday. The phrase "one big family" is used by just about anyone who plays, coaches, or watches the NSWPDRL. "It's not just a sport, it's a community and that's what I'm probably most proud about," NSWPDRL founder George Tonna said. The Combined Indigenous All Stars versus PDRL All Stars fixture is a centrepiece of the PDRL season and is played at the start of NAIDOC week. The Indigenous team is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, as well as Indigenous peoples from New Zealand and the Pacific. Todd Dorward is a Kullilli man living on Dharug country and has been a stalwart of the Indigenous side over the past decade. A prolific artist who is visually impaired and deaf, Todd designed the Indigenous side's jersey worn in the fixture since 2023. "It's very special, I can't describe it in words really," he said. Todd said the NAIDOC fixture gave him a chance to practise his culture on and off the field. "Smoking ceremonies welcome people to country, and to cleanse ourselves of bad spirits," he said. "And it lets the ancestors know that we're conducting formal events." Now playing with the Roosters, Todd has played for multiple clubs and represented Australia since he started the sport in 2015. A talented multi-sport athlete, Todd's living room is filled with medals and trophies for football, cricket, and rugby league. "I can't see why anything should stop anyone with a disability from playing rugby league or any sport in any manner," he said. George Tonna knows the transformative power of playing rugby league for people living with a physical disability. "It's saving lives," he said. A former player let him know the impact the game had on them. "He approached me and said, 'Thanks for organising because it saved my life.' As a lifelong South Sydney fan, he wanted to be able to play the game he was passionate about and not just watch from the sidelines. Since first established in 2010, the PDRL has grown from a few mates on a paddock to a four-team league backed by the NRL. Australia has a national PDRL side that has played in international tournaments. The PDRL includes eight of the 10 impairment classifications used at the Paralympics. But where this code differs is that athletes in different classifications all play at the same time. "All different disabilities [have to] fit in on the same field," George said. "So we came up with the concept of [players wearing] black shorts as tackle and red shorts as touch." Fumbles or dropped balls are counted as a tackle rather than a knock-on, and there are no scrums in this competition. Playing time is shorter with 20-minute halves. In 2026, Australia will host the second PDRL World Cup. NSWPDRL is also working with the Gold Coast Titans to develop a State of Origin series featuring NSW and Queensland, which has been a dream since the competition started. George believed the sport's strong community and a well-established competition would set up the next generation of players. "I can't play forever, so we need the young fellas to keep the game going for years to come," he said. One of those new faces is Wiradjuri teen Rowen Grooms. The 14-year-old lives with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, which can cause heart abnormalities and developmental delays. Rowen was never really interested in rugby league until he discovered the PDRL. Now he owns a football, which he kicks around with his grandfather, and watches games on television by his side. His grandmother, Denise Grooms, saw his confidence soar. "In his first game, the others were all so encouraging and letting him know what to do, and he scored a try," she said. "I have to say we are very proud grandparents as we watch him take the field to either train or play. On Sunday, the PDRL All Stars reclaimed the shield — and bragging rights — with a 26–4 victory. For Todd Dorward, the game was about more than just the scoreboard. "It's all about feeling proud of who you are and where you come from, and being with your people and culture," he said.
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Central Park to host NAIDOC art exhibition
The lobby at Perth's Central Park will transform into a cultural space this NAIDOC Week for a second year when Wangening Bardip (Healing Stories) hits St Georges Terrace. The free event focuses on this year's NAIDOC week theme to empower 'strength, vision and legacy in the next generation', with the Waalitj Foundation's Deadly Sista Girlz set to steal the show. Their artworks will be featured alongside established First Nations artists including Carol Martin, Jacinta Anderson, Sara Riches and former Deadly Sista Girlz program participant Erika Fernandez. More than 30 artworks were submitted from the Deadly Sista Girlz program, with 12 selected to feature in this year's exhibition. Since its inception in 2007, The Deadly Sista Girlz program has helped more than 6000 young First Nations women by nurturing leadership, resilience and community connection with a focus on vital topics such as women's health, drug and alcohol awareness, road safety, financial literacy and healthy relationship. Fernandez said the work from the Deadly Sista Girlz program brought a meaningful new dimension. 'It means a lot to see the next generation of young Aboriginal women given this kind of platform right in the centre of the city, where their stories can be seen and heard,' she said. 'It's not just about the art — it's about showing these girls that their voices belong in spaces like this.' HIF Representative Hannah Swainston, Erika Fernandez, Jaime Silva and Imogen Buckley. Credit: Supplied All artwork is on sale, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going directly to the artists. More than 20 artworks at last year's exhibition were sold, generating more than $70,000 for the First Nations artists, and organisers hope this year's event will build on that success. Waalijt Foundation business coach Jaime Silva said the exhibition was a continuation of its commitment to healing through art. 'It showcases resilience, cultural pride, and the transformative power of creativity,' he said. Visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite Deadly Sista Girlz artwork through a QR code, with the winner to be announced after the exhibition. The event will run from July 4 to 11.
