A deadly initiative has been launched ahead of national NAIDOC Week ‘Heal Country’ (4 – 11 July), providing all 16,000 Goodstart employees a free Goodstart NAIDOC shirt.
Within the first two days of announcing this offer, more than 13,500 orders had been placed, with thousands more expected over the coming week.
The initiative is thanks to a partnership between Goodstart and BW Tribal – a 100% Australian Indigenous owned and operated Australian brand, who works in collaboration with fellow Indigenous artists, using modern textile techniques to bring artworks and stories to life.
Goodstart employees can choose from three beautifully designed shirts – created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists – Kiya Watt, Joel Sam and Leah Brideson reflecting this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Heal Country!’.
Melody Ingra, Goodstart’s Cultural Liaison said the initiative was about enabling all Goodstart employees to connect with this year’s theme of ‘Heal Country’.
“NAIDOC shirts are a powerful way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture,” Melody said.
“We take seriously our responsibility to ensure the next generation of Australians grow up with connection to and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, people and our true history.
“We look forward to seeing this deadly initiative come to life – with Goodstarters proudly wearing their NAIDOC shirt throughout the week, both at work and at community events held in support of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
“By wearing our shirts across more than 670 communities nationally, we hope to inspire our next generation of children and spark conversations for Heal Country! that calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.”
Melody explains the initiative was inspired by the growing demand for NAIDOC shirts each year.
“It all started in 2018 when one of our centre directors designed a NAIDOC shirt for their educators to wear with Goodstart logo on it,” she said.
“Since then, more and more Goodstarters have purchased NAIDOC shirts from BW Tribal each year with some 7,500 shirts purchased in 2020.
“Importantly, giving every Goodstart employee a free shirt is a significant gesture that was made possible by our special partnership with BW Tribal.”
BW Tribal says they are excited to again be partnering with Goodstart Early Learning for this years NAIDOC celebrations.
"It is great to see a large organisation whole heartedly embrace and participate in the NAIDOC yearly celebrations at a nationwide level.
"It truly is a credit to the early learning organisation how they are embedding practisers that allow Australia’s First Nations, Culture to be shared and learned at an early age”.
More information about NAIDOC Week, please visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/
Within the first two days of announcing this offer, more than 13,500 orders had been placed, with thousands more expected over the coming week.
The initiative is thanks to a partnership between Goodstart and BW Tribal – a 100% Australian Indigenous owned and operated Australian brand, who works in collaboration with fellow Indigenous artists, using modern textile techniques to bring artworks and stories to life.
Goodstart employees can choose from three beautifully designed shirts – created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists – Kiya Watt, Joel Sam and Leah Brideson reflecting this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Heal Country!’.
Melody Ingra, Goodstart’s Cultural Liaison said the initiative was about enabling all Goodstart employees to connect with this year’s theme of ‘Heal Country’.
“NAIDOC shirts are a powerful way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture,” Melody said.
“We take seriously our responsibility to ensure the next generation of Australians grow up with connection to and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, people and our true history.
“We look forward to seeing this deadly initiative come to life – with Goodstarters proudly wearing their NAIDOC shirt throughout the week, both at work and at community events held in support of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
“By wearing our shirts across more than 670 communities nationally, we hope to inspire our next generation of children and spark conversations for Heal Country! that calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.”
Melody explains the initiative was inspired by the growing demand for NAIDOC shirts each year.
“It all started in 2018 when one of our centre directors designed a NAIDOC shirt for their educators to wear with Goodstart logo on it,” she said.
“Since then, more and more Goodstarters have purchased NAIDOC shirts from BW Tribal each year with some 7,500 shirts purchased in 2020.
“Importantly, giving every Goodstart employee a free shirt is a significant gesture that was made possible by our special partnership with BW Tribal.”
BW Tribal says they are excited to again be partnering with Goodstart Early Learning for this years NAIDOC celebrations.
"It is great to see a large organisation whole heartedly embrace and participate in the NAIDOC yearly celebrations at a nationwide level.
"It truly is a credit to the early learning organisation how they are embedding practisers that allow Australia’s First Nations, Culture to be shared and learned at an early age”.
More information about NAIDOC Week, please visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/