With more employers offering cultural leave to employees, should NAIDOC be declared a national holiday?

Some employers have started offering 'NAIDOC leave' to First Nations employees so that they can participate in events and celebrations.

While NAIDOC Week events are held across the country, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not able to attend because of work commitments. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples history and achievements to be recognised and celebrated.

A week-long celebration, the first Sunday in July marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week each year.

In recent years, there have been calls for NAIDOC Week to become an official public holiday.

In 2022, The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria started a petition to lobby governments to enact this change.

"We celebrate horse races, grand finals, monarchs, we need to have a conversation about what is critically important to the cultural and social fabric of this state Victoria," Assembly co-chair and Nira illim bulluk man Marcus Stewart told NITV News.

While NAIDOC Week events are held across the country, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not able to attend because of work commitments.

Some employers have started offering 'NAIDOC leave' to First Nations employees so that they can participate in these NAIDOC celebrations.

In fact, in New South Wales, many government organisations such as advisory entities, councils and universities give their employees access to NAIDOC leave.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff within these organisations are granted up to one day paid leave per year to participate in NAIDOC celebrations.

"This paid leave can be taken at any time during NAIDOC week, or in the weeks leading up to and after NAIDOC week," a NSW government spokesperson told NITV.

Wakka Wakka and Bundjalung man and Deputy Secretary of Aboriginal Affairs Shane Hamilton says that it's a 'positive sign' that First Nations staff are having access to this leave.

"NAIDOC Week events are on the rise, with Aboriginal people becoming louder, prouder and receiving more support than ever before to celebrate our cultures.

"Having a dedicated day where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are supported to celebrate and connect, is just another positive sign that our society is valuing our long history in this Country," Mr Hamilton said.

However, within government agencies, NAIDOC leave is at the discretion of management.

"Compliance with this policy is not mandatory, however, government agencies should release staff unless there are exceptional circumstances where an individual's absence would impact the operational requirements of the business," a NSW government spokesperson told NITV.

Gamilaroi man Tyren Ah-See works as an Aboriginal Youth Justice Caseworker for Youth Justice.

This year, he took his one-day NAIDOC Week leave so that he could celebrate his culture and attend events.

Gamilaroi man Tyren Ah-See just completed his Masters in Social Work and is now working as an Aboriginal Youth Justice Caseworker.

"It means so much to me to be supported connecting to community and culture. NAIDOC is such an important week for mob to celebrate thousands of years of culture.

"I'm glad I have the opportunity to celebrate these events outside of a professional environment," Mr Ah-See said.

He hopes to see other employers follow suit.

"First Nations peoples must be given time to connect to our community and culture for our well-being and be able to continue to keep the fire burning," he said.