Standing in Solidarity – A Reflection on Our NAIDOC Week Pop-Up Stall
By Dr Bibiana Chan
This morning, I spoke with Henry, a Year 9 high school volunteer, and asked him to let passers-by know that we were celebrating NAIDOC Week.
“This stem of native flowers is for you,” he would say with a warm smile.
When Henry offered the first stem to a senior woman with two young children, she bluntly replied, “We don’t celebrate NAIDOC Week.”
I reassured Henry, “That’s okay. We live in a democratic country — everyone is entitled to their views. What’s important is that we, the Community Flower Studio, are here to celebrate NAIDOC Week.”
This year’s theme— ‘‘The Next Generations: Strength, Vision and Legacy’’ — resonates deeply with our mission.
Henry continued offering free stems of native Leucadendron to people walking past our pop-up stall. It was a cold winter day, and not everyone seemed interested in our red native Leucadendron. Some declined the offer, saying, “I don’t know where to put it.” We never heard passers-by say this to us when we offered roses to them.
As I was chatting with Henry about the harm inflicted on Indigenous Australians when the First Fleet landed on these shores, the same woman returned. She challenged us about our “Aboriginality” and questioned why we had set up a NAIDOC stall outside the café.
Before I could respond, two other women stepped out and defended us, saying,
“It’s totally unnecessary to say something like that!”
I mentioned that I had supported the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. The woman looked surprised.
“Really? That divided the country! I don’t believe in giving people special status!” She crossed the road, still visibly agitated.
Henry quietly offered stems to the two supportive women, and I thanked them for standing up for us. Later, I explained to Henry that this is the reality we live in — people can hold very different, and sometimes deeply entrenched, views about Australia’s First Nations peoples.
When Captain Cook first arrived, British settlers brought diseases (e.g. Small Pox) that decimated Indigenous populations — some estimates suggest about 70 – 90% were wiped out. The legacy of colonisation is long-lasting. One stark example is the 8 to 9-year gap in life expectancy between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians.
In 2007, the Howard Government launched the Closing the Gap initiative. The research centre at UNSW, where I used to work, was commissioned to assess the health impacts on Indigenous communities.
📉 Key Areas of Concern
- Incarceration Rates
Indigenous adult incarceration has increased by 20% since 2019. Youth detention remains high, despite a target to reduce it by 30%. - Child Protection & Early Childhood
Outcomes are worsening, particularly in the Northern Territory. There are concerning trends in child development, youth engagement, and out-of-home care. - Suicide Rates
Alarmingly, suicide among Indigenous Australians has risen— a deeply troubling reversal. - Life Expectancy, Education & Employment
These areas show mixed progress. Some modest improvements have been made, but most gaps remain wide and systemic. Only a few targets — such as early childhood education enrollment and employment — are showing steady gains.
I recently attended a webinar organised by Social Enterprise Australia, where I learned about Clothing The Gap — a social enterprise led by mob, for mob. Like the Community Flower Studio, they sell merchandise such as T-shirts, scarfs and socks to fund education programs and advocacy campaigns. Their values are clear: elevate, educate, advocate and motivate. Non-Indigenous Australians can become good allies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by wearing these shirts.
Rather than rely on government handouts, they’ve built a business that empowers their community. I recently bought a few shirts from Clothing The Gap. I paid a little more than I would for an ordinary shirt, but I was proud to support their cause.
What we encountered today was sad and disappointing. But it also deepened my commitment — to continue advocating for our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and to stand firm in solidarity. On this final day of NAIDOC Week 2025, let us remember that reconciliation begins with truth-telling, empathy, and meaningful action.