Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025 at Maranatha Aged Care
July 10, 2025
Did you know the word Kallangur comes from an Indigenous word meaning “a good place”? At Maranatha Aged Care, we couldn’t agree more. This NAIDOC Week, our aged care community proudly came together on Yugarabul country to celebrate the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our week of celebration began with a session hosted by Carmel, our Wellbeing Cultural and Spiritual Coordinator. She spoke about the meaning and importance of NAIDOC Week with our residents, while also acknowledging and honouring those in our aged care home with Aboriginal heritage. Residents then enjoyed a collection of educational and engaging videos Carmel had curated. These explored various aspects of Aboriginal culture, including the meanings behind local Brisbane place names, Indigenous art and music, sacred sites, traditional dance and ceremonies, didgeridoo making, and more.
To accompany the session, residents shared freshly made damper, prepared by our new café worker, Kerry. It was a comforting way to connect with culture through food, and a lovely addition to the day’s experience.
Throughout the week, our aged care lifestyle program included an Indigenous-themed word game, NAIDOC craft sessions, and a selection of NAIDOC shows and documentaries shown on our in-house Maranatha TV channel. These activities encouraged residents to continue learning, reflecting and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in meaningful ways.
One of the highlights was our special NAIDOC-themed lunch. Residents were served kangaroo stew and barramundi with sweet potatoes, followed by a bush lime cheesecake for dessert.
We are proud to have residents with Aboriginal heritage living here at Maranatha, and it was especially heartwarming to see how engaged they were in this year’s celebration. With over 40 residents participating in the event, it was a wonderful example of connection, inclusivity and the importance of cultural recognition in aged care.
Happy NAIDOC Week to our entire Maranatha Aged Care community. This was a meaningful celebration of culture, belonging, and what it means to live in a truly good place.