Blacktown City is proud to be home to the largest urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia. With 11,903 people identifying their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, this group comprises 3.0% of our population, compared with 1.9% for Greater Western Sydney Region and only 1.5% for Greater Sydney.
For information on statistics, you can visit our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Profile.
We have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Profile Snapshot(PDF, 2MB) that identifies social issues and strengths.
We acknowledge the Dharug tribe as the traditional custodians of Blacktown City.
As a mark of respect, our events, official meetings, functions and other special occasions begin acknowledging the Country on which we meet and pay respect to the many Aboriginal nations represented in our community. We encourage other organisations to include a Welcome to Country and/or Acknowledgement of Country on appropriate occasions.
We acknowledge that the Dharug people were the original custodians of the land on which we meet today. We pay our respects to elders past and present, and acknowledge the Aboriginal people for their custodianship on this land. We will work together for a united city that respects this land and values the contribution to our community and culture of all people of Aboriginal heritage.
We are reopening the EOI for the Blacktown City First Nations Advisory Committee.
The new closing date is Friday 25 July 2025 (please disregard current date on EOI).
Existing applications will be considered but need not reapply. Click here(PDF, 240KB) for link to EOI.
Our First Nations Advisory Committee consists of people who live or work in Blacktown City. The committee advises Council on the needs of our Aboriginal communities. We aim to:
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Raise community issues and develop policies related to the needs of Aboriginal people
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provide communication between communities and Council
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provide input to broader planning and activities.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan(PDF, 5MB) is Blacktown City's strategy to build positive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
This is one of the largest Aboriginal interagencies in the Sydney metropolitan area. Meetings are held monthly (except January and December) with the aim of providing support and networking for Western Sydney Aboriginal community workers.
This program is designed to improve public speaking skills, self esteem and general confidence. It encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to try our cultural support program to improve these skills.
The program is not exclusively for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but we aim to have at least 50% of members who are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Heritages.
For more information, contact our Community Development Team on 9839 6203 or visit the Mount Druitt Koori Toastmasters web page.
NAIDOC Week
National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) is celebrated each year in July. The day represents a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander cultures and recognises the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander first Australians in various fields. For events within Blacktown LGA click here.
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey: The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.
Reconciliation is the building of mutual and respectful relationships between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians to help both cultures unite as one.
National Sorry Day
The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998, 1 year after the tabling of the report Bringing Them Home, which was an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. One of the recommendations of the report was that a National Sorry Day should be declared.
Each year since then, events have been held across Australia on, or around, 26 May each year to acknowledge the impact of the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
Read the full national apology to the Stolen Generation.(PDF, 41KB)
Please see below a list of local Aboriginal services:
Organisations
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Contact Information
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Darug Research and Information Centre
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9622 4081
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Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council
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4724 5600
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Butucarbin Aboriginal Service
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9839 7167
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Muru Mittigar
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4730 0400
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Each year we celebrate the contributions of members of our First Nations community to our City.
This year we will be awarding the following categories:
- NAIDOC Citizen of the Year - This award recognises the individual’s past and current achievements, and their status as an inspirational role model for First Nations peoples and the broader Australian community.
- NAIDOC Young Achiever of the Year (12-25) - The award seeks to recognise young people who are inspirational role models for First Nations peoples and the broader Australian community, as well as taking into consideration the individual’s future goals and expected influences.
- NAIDOC Sports Person of the Year – Recognises accomplished First Nations athletes who have served as inspirational role models for First Nations peoples and the broader Australian community.
- NAIDOC Innovation Award - Acknowledges those who have developed new and innovative ideas to create change for First Nations people and communities within Blacktown City.
Nominees must:
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- be recognised as such by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blacktown City community
- live, work or volunteer in Blacktown City
- have made an outstanding contribution to our community.
Please see guidelines for further information NAIDOC-Awards-Guidelines.pdf(PDF, 70KB)
Nominations are now open and close 11.59pm Friday 27 June 2025
Click here to view form.
The NAIDOC Award winners will be presented at the Warami Mittigar Concert on Sunday 13 July 2025 at Blacktown Showground.
For further details contact our Aboriginal Community Development Officer on 9839 6167 or email Mark.Gibson@blacktown.nsw.gov.au
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Citizen of the Year
Winner: Nicole Winters
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young Achiever of the Year (12-25)
Winner: Crystal Ferguson
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Person of the Year
Winner: Tyson Adams
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person Living with a Disability Award
Winner: Janine Mieni
For further information on Blacktown City Council's NAIDOC Awards, contact our Community Development Officer - Aboriginal on 9839 6167 or Mark.Gibson@blacktown.nsw.gov.au