Anglicare Southern Queensland marked NAIDOC Week 2025 by hosting a series of cultural activities across the region, guided by this year's theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy'.

On Gubbi Gubbi Country, Anglicare CEO Sue Cooke joined Aunty Dale Chapman and Hannah Jones to lead a native mocktail and bracelet-making session.

The session was recorded and shared with staff and residents across eight aged care homes and corporate offices.

Aunty Dale, a Yuwaalaraay/Kooma woman and founder of Forest Glen-based business My Dilly Bag, said her work centres on teaching others about Aboriginal food knowledge.

"I was working for the Education Department in the 90s and noticed nobody really knew about the type of food that sustained Aboriginal people for Millenia," she said.

"I decided to take my knowledge as a contemporary chef who's been trained in preparing traditional First Nation meals and introduce native ingredients to the mix, for all kinds of people to enjoy.

"It's important for people to know that these native ingredients are available, you can grow it in your backyard, or source it from First Nations businesses, it's very simple."

At Symes Grove Residential Aged Care in Magandjin (Brisbane), residents took part in bush damper making and a painting session led by Cobble Cobble artist Zoe Carson, who introduced dot painting techniques using canvases and plant pots.

In Logan, Anglicare Youth Homelessness Services staff attended the city's NAIDOC event at the Kingston Butter Factory, offering giveaways, spray tattoos, handprint art and bracelet-making activities for local families.

Ms Cooke said NAIDOC Week is a reminder of the responsibility organisations hold in acknowledging and embedding First Nations culture.

"It's vital to celebrate and honour occasions such as NAIDOC Week as we really need to ensure First Nations wisdom is passed on, so the stories of the many thousands of years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture can be heard through the generations," she said.

"Organisations, no matter the size, have a responsibility to ensure that these stories are continuously honoured and told every single day, not just during awareness dates such as NAIDOC week.

"At Anglicare we do this by respecting cultural protocols and bringing cultural protocols into our work, from Acknowledgements of Country through to ceremonial activities such as smoking ceremonies and Welcome to Countries."

This year's NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of celebration and the continued recognition of Indigenous voices.