NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

The week is usually held from the first to second Sunday in July each year, and is dedicated to encourage communities to learn the traditional names, history and stories of their sacred places, pay respects to their country and to honour those who work to preserve the land, sea and culture.

NAIDOC Week is focused on recognising the history, achievements of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, their spiritual connection to land and sea, while celebrating their cultures.

North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) chief executive Sue Belsham said a community lunch will be held under the hospital’s healing tree from 11.30am on Tuesday.

The hospital and health service was proud to participate in this year’s celebrations, whose theme is “We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate,” Mrs Belsham said.

In the North West, 23 per cent of the population identifies as indigenous, and the NWHHS was committed to culturally appropriate care for each of its patients, she said.

The NWHHS employs 75 indigenous staff, and had the highest proportion of indigenous staff employed in nursing positions, Mrs Belsham said.

Mount Isa NAIDOC committee member and senior health worker Aunty Frances Page said the lunch under the healing tree was particularly meaningful to indigenous people.

 “Getting together under the healing tree at the hospital is like being on sacred ground,” Mrs Page said.  “If only that tree could talk.

 “It is where our people have waited while babies were born and where we wait for our loved ones who are sick or healing.”

NAIDOC was an opportunity for all cultures to gather together and focus on the “status of Aboriginal people in the North West, and across Australia,” NWHHS Social Work director Linda Ford said.

She praised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, who met regularly to coordinate the NAIDOC activities, and during NAIDOC week, the service published profiles of its indigenous staff.

“We will share their stories and where they work to shape the future of our patients,” she said.  

During the healing tree luncheon, the NWHHS will present five staff, who have been nominated by their peers, with awards in categories include outstanding excellence, community care, health promotion, prevention and intervention, and empowering indigenous patients.