NAIDOC Week: honouring culture through community spaces

From 6–13 July 2025, Australia celebrates 50 years of NAIDOC Week – a significant milestone in recognising the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, invites us to reflect on the past and support a strong, thriving future led by new voices.

For councils, schools, aged care providers and community organisations, NAIDOC Week is more than a date on the calendar; it’s a time to listen, learn, and consider how everyday spaces can better reflect and respect the communities they serve.

Outdoor environments play a vital role in this, offering spaces for gathering, reflection and cultural exchange.

Bring people together

Whether it’s a shaded gathering circle in a school playground, a quiet garden bench in an aged care facility, or a community hub in a local park, outdoor spaces can be places of pride and purpose. When designed thoughtfully, they foster connection, inclusion and belonging.

Consider seating that invites people to pause and reflect, tables that encourage shared stories over a cup of tea, or gathering spots that create space for cultural events, ceremonies and celebrations. It’s not just about updating an area – it’s about embedding care and cultural context into the spaces people use every day.

Caring for Country

One of our most meaningful collaborations has been the Caring for Country range: a collection that brings together function, beauty and cultural storytelling. This is high-quality, Australian-made outdoor furniture designed with communities in mind.

Created in partnership with renowned Wiradjuri artist Brett Parker, known as ‘Billyara,’ this range features original artworks that speak to connection, culture and Country. Each piece is designed to invite reflection and dialogue, while withstanding the demands of our outdoor environments.

Not just furniture pieces, they’re conversation-starters, story-keepers and community assets.

Meet the artist

Brett Parker is a proud Wiradjuri man from the Murrumbidgee River people. His deep connection to Country and community stems from his upbringing on the Brungle Mission near the Tumut River in NSW, and his totem, the eagle, reflects his spiritual ties to the land. Brett has been sharing Indigenous culture through workshops, education and public art for over 30 years. His works have featured in national exhibitions, education programs, and community projects across Australia and internationally.

Meet the range

The Barradam-bang Bench Seat with Backrest features Brett’s vibrant artwork across the backrest, paired with comfortable, fully aluminium seat planks in a warm woodgrain finish. Architecturally designed for accessibility, the bench features a QR code that links to the story behind the artwork.

The Burbang Birrang Outdoor Setting is a welcoming table and bench combination, ideal for bringing people together, complete with wide-profile aluminium batons for comfort and wheelchair access on request. The table’s surface showcases Brett’s Burbang Birrang design in a matte finish – beautiful, functional and meaningful.

The Wirimbirra Wirimbirra Bin Enclosure is more than a practical solution. It’s also a canvas. With artwork on both sides, weather protection, and secure access, it integrates cultural visibility into everyday infrastructure. Like the other pieces, it includes a QR code linking users to the story behind the design.

NAIDOC and beyond

While NAIDOC Week is an important moment to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, inclusive outdoor design should be a year-round consideration. The Caring for Country range was created with the long-term vision to build public and shared spaces that are practical and deeply connected to the land and stories around them.

Spaces with shared story

Designing a new park, revitalising a school yard, or adding quiet seating in an aged care facility, these pieces can help foster belonging, pride and understanding for everyone who visits. Let’s collaborate and spec some or all of the Caring for Country range to create community-friendly outdoor environments.