5–12 July 2026
This week marks five decades of NAIDOC. Fifty years of Elders, organisers and communities carrying this forward.
We’re using the week to name a gap the sector hasn’t closed: First Nations people with disability sit at the intersection of two systems that too often fail them separately, and fail them more together.
What the Disability Royal Commission found
The Disability Royal Commission’s Final Report was clear on this. Racism and ableism don’t operate in isolation. They found:
- Higher rates of institutionalisation and justice system contact
- Communication and cultural barriers in mainstream disability services
- Kinship, community and connection to Country are often left out of support planning, and
- Elders are carrying ageism on top of both.
Why cultural safety is foundational, not optional
Cultural safety isn’t an add-on to disability support. It’s foundational: how a worker understands identity, family structure and decision making from the very first interaction.
Training built for this
At the NGO Training Centre, we recognise the gap in the training that Disability and Aged Care Workers were receiving. Training was often overlooked or not even considered unless mandated by funding bodies, which in itself is a sad story. Our courses ensure that we provide the voice of First Nations peoples. We offer the living experiences of our First Nations People. Two courses we offer are built for this:
Cultural Awareness (Disability): The foundational knowledge and self-reflective practice for genuinely culturally safe disability support. This is a great course that invites workers to look at their own beliefs and practices, and recognise unconscious bias.
Supporting First Nations Elders (Aged Care), recognising the authority and role of Elders in the community, and supporting them without overriding that role. Monica, who lives in an Elder’s facility in Shepparton, VIC, speaks about her experiences receiving care and how workers can deliver culturally safe care to her in a personal and respectful way.
It is worth checking where your team’s training sits this NAIDOC Week.
What are you up to this NAIDOC week?
#NAIDOC2026 #50YearsOfDeadly #DisabilityRoyalCommission #CulturalSafety #NDIS #AgedCare #FirstNations
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Author: Amanda Robinson (She/Her) BA, MMHealthPrac.
Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country
Amanda, Head of Learning and Development and an experienced specialist in NDIS and Aged Care, promotes capability and sustainability within the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, a Master’s in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and an MBA underway, she offers extensive expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A military veteran and dedicated carer of a veteran, Amanda advocates for Human Rights, striving to reduce stigma and eliminate barriers for those with disability and mental health challenges. She is enthusiastic about fostering strong stakeholder relationships through her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analytical abilities.
