Honouring the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Each year on 9 August, the world observes the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a time to honour the wisdom, resilience and enduring cultures of First Nations peoples, while recognising how much further we must go in building an equitable and just future (United Nations, 2025).

Indigenous peoples across the globe safeguard a profound wealth of knowledge, from land stewardship and climate adaptation to governance, language and culture. Yet they continue to face disproportionate barriers to health, education, representation and economic participation. Recognising this imbalance is not an act of guilt, but one of respect, awareness and shared responsibility.

Building bridges through awareness and action

In Australia, organisations such as Australians Together are helping bridge the gap through free educational resources designed for schools, workplaces and communities. Their aim is to foster awareness, deepen understanding and encourage meaningful reconciliation (Australians Together, 2025).

Meanwhile, the Inclusion Program partners with businesses nationwide to create culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through leadership training, policy guidance and reconciliation workshops, it helps organisations move beyond symbolic gestures toward practical, measurable change (Inclusion Program, 2025).

References

Australians Together (2025). Education and Reconciliation Resources for Schools and Workplaces. https://australianstogether.org.au/resources-page/significant-dates-and-events/national-reconciliation-week

Inclusion Program (2025). Cultural Safety and Inclusion Initiatives for Australian Organisations. https://inclusion-program.com.au/

United Nations (2025). International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025. https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day

Image source: United Nations (2025). International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025.

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