First Nations News

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KIDS NEWS 2025: Indigenous Literacy Fund (ILF) celebrates Indigenous Literacy Day on Wednesday 3 September. Students from Katherine High School in the Northern Territory have written a bilingual book with Gregg Dreise called Grinch det K’Taun Krok! (Grinch the K-Town Croc!), published by the ILF. Picture: ILF/supplied

ILD: Celebrating strength in stories

Young Indigenous authors have travelled from their remote community to Sydney Opera House this Indigenous Literacy Day, to share their unique bilingual tale about a quacking crocodile

First Nations News

EMBARGOED UNTIL AUGUST 20 FOR THE 2025 BUSH SUMMIT COVERAGE. CONTACT TOM MINEAR AT THE HERALD SUN BEFORE USE - COONABARABRAN, NSW.
Coonabarabran High School has a strong Indigenous girls program including dance and compulsory Gamillaroi language studies for all students to take part in. NSW high school have also seen a record number of Indigenous students completing their HSC thanks to various programs like these. Students L-R Sharmyra Gall (Yr12), Tyler Rogers (Yr11), Lakiah Chatfield (Yr11) and Britany Andrews (Yr11). Picture: Toby Zerna Media.

Students revive ancient language

Just 20 years ago the Gamilaraay language was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to one local high school, the ancient tongue has returned. Find out how the kids in Coona brought it back

Ask Healthy Harold

KIDS NEWS ONLY. Healthy Harold July 2025 - Naidoc Week. Picture: supplied

NAIDOC Week: You are the future

This NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of honouring and celebrating First Nations peoples and cultures. As Healthy Harold says, young people are Australia’s future. Which path will you choose?

VIDEOFirst Nations News

KIDS NEWS. The Dargan Shelter has been identified as the oldest occupied Ice Age cave at high elevation in Australia. Picture: Dr Amy Way

Australia’s oldest Ice Age cave

A remarkable discovery has proved First Nations people were camping at much higher altitudes than previously thought during the last Ice Age about 20,000 years ago – where did they shelter?

First Nations News

Kids News 2025: Shane Howard with Nardi Simspn and the Barayagal choir, performing Solid Rock from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for Reconciliation Week 2025. Picture: BridgeClimb Sydney/supplied

Bridge sings out ‘Solid Rock’

Solid Rock crescendoed this Reconciliation Week after Australian rock legend Shane Howard from Goanna and the Barayagal choir sang the classic tune from the top of the Harbour Bridge

First Nations News

Uluru. Picture: Voyages Indigenous Tourism

Tourists trash ancient Uluru art

Two Bhutanese citizens have been permanently banned from visiting Uluru after they defaced ancient artwork on the sacred rock, causing deep distress to the Anangu traditional owners

Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, May 13, 2025

Pioneer wins Libs’ leadership duel

Cartoonist Mark Knight draws on the classic western plot of cowboys pulling pistols at dawn to capture the Liberal Party’s leadership vote – but is the female pioneer now on clean up duty?

Society and Culture

Hands giving passport (of Australia).

Escape 11 August 2024
Doc updates
Photo - iStock

Can you spot secret passport art?

If you have a recently issued passport, take a closer look. At first glance, the 17 iconic Australian landscapes are beautiful to behold. But hidden shapes start to appear under a certain type of lighting

First Nations News

A new Australian five dollar banknote is displayed in Sydney on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. The new note, which came into circularion today, arose following a campaign from 15-year-old Connor McLeod, who is visually impaired, that amassed 57,000 supporters targeting the Reserve Bank of Australia. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING

New $5 bill breaks British tradition

The new theme for the $5 note has been revealed, swapping out the traditional use of British royalty to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ ancient ‘Connection to Country’

Community Shoutout

Members of the Yuendumu community proudly acknowledged for their contribution to bilingual education on March 5, 2025, when Yuendumu School celebrated 50 years of bilingual education. Picture: Supplied

50 years of NT bilingual learning

Yuendumu School in the Northern Territory has reached an impressive birthday, celebrating half a century of bilingual education

First Nations News

KIDS NEWS 2025: Children's author and Indigenous Literacy Foundation Lifetime Ambassador Andy Griffiths launched the ILF's annual Great Book Swap at the Australian Museum on Tuesday 4 March, 2025. Picture: ILF/supplied

Why ‘badness’ in books is so good

Encouraged by children’s author Andy Griffiths to stir trouble and tell monster tales in their own stories, delighted students were primed to devour new titles at ILF’s Great Book Swap launch

UPDATEDSport

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Bobby Hill of the Indigenous All Stars celebrates a goal with teammates during the 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match between the Indigenous All Stars and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Captains all in: AFL State of Origin

AFL State of Origin talks after Indigenous All Stars’ success are making progress after AFL boss Andrew Dillon met with the league’s captains, who unanimously supported reviving rep footy

NETWORK SPECIAL. MUST TALK WITH NETWORK PIC DESK BEFORE PUBLISHING. Prominent journalist Stan Grant features in a new documentary that aims to “challenge the false narrative of Captain Cook” by celebrating the history between Muslims and Indigenous Australians in the pre-colonial period., , Produced by the Islamic Abu Hanifa Institute in Berala in Sydney’s west, Before 1770 recreates the journey of sea cucumber fisherman, called Macassan trepangers, from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi to northern Australia., , Promotional material for the documentary said it is “designed to encapsulate the history of Muslims in Australia before the First Fleet.”

Doco queries Captain Cook history

A contentious new documentary challenges ‘first contact’ history about how Australia was founded by highlighting links between northern Indigenous communities and Indonesian fishermen

Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, October 22, 2024

Why royal welcome went rogue

The pomp and ceremony greeting Charles and Camilla in Canberra was no match for the not-so-warm welcome Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe threw down in Mark Knight cartoon

First Nations News

ILF ambassador Jessica Mauboy is one of the big names appearing at Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations at the Sydney Opera House on September 4.

Jess Mauboy to livestream schools

Australian superstar and ILF ambassador Jessica Mauboy will be in ‘the house’ on Indigenous Literacy Day at Sydney Opera House and embodies the 2024 theme, Be a Proud Voice for Country

First Nations News

KIDS NEWS 2024: Indigenous Literacy Foundation - Great Book Swap Launch on March 12, 2024 in Sydney, Australia with mega-selling children's author and ILF Lifetime Ambassador Andy Griffiths. Picture: Joseph Mayers/ILF/supplied

Swap stories with Treehouse author Andy Griffiths

Join Treehouse author Andy Griffiths as he reveals the magic of the Great Book Swap and its impact on kids in Australia’s remote communities

VIDEOAsk Healthy Harold

KIDS NEWS 2024: Healthy Harold celebrates NAIDOC Week's 2024 theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. Picture: supplied/Life Ed

NAIDOC Week all about pride

Celebrating this year’s NAIDOC theme – Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud – Healthy Harold reflects on the role of pride in honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

VIDEOFirst Nations News

Students from Barunga Remote Community School who, with ILF Lifetime Ambassador and performer Justine Clarke with, wrote the 2024 Busking for Change song, Shordi Krik. Picture: Justine Taylor

Song every Australian should know

Busking for Change 2024: Students are invited to join top Aussie performers in their bid to help preserve ‘severely endangered’ Indigenous languages by learning this one simple song

Community Shoutout

The Central Land Council took Mutitjulu School students on several outback excursions to look for tracks, burrows and bush foods. Picture: Department of Education

School brings class to the outback

Just outside one of the Northern Territory’s most beautiful national parks, a class of students traded whiteboards for red dirt to keep their connection to country strong

First Nations News

ULURU, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. OCTOBER 10, 2023: The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting Uluru ahead of the 2023 Voice to Parliament Australian referendum. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Reconciliation after the Voice vote

This National Reconciliation Week marks 24 years since the historic Walk for Reconciliation over Sydney Harbour Bridge – but the ‘No’ referendum vote has left a scar for many Australians