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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article discusses the Stolen Generations, colonisation and trauma, and may reference experiences of people who have passed away.

Each July, communities across Australia come together for NAIDOC Week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 2026, NAIDOC Week runs from 5 to 12 July, hosted in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), under the theme 50 Years of Deadly — marking five decades of the modern NAIDOC movement and the strength of the world’s oldest continuing cultures.

It is also a meaningful time to talk about something that sits close to the heart of FearLess’s work: trauma that is carried across generations, and the healing that communities are leading in response.

What NAIDOC Week is about

NAIDOC Week is a national celebration held in the first full week of July each year. It is a time for all Australians to learn about First Nations histories and cultures, and to recognise the resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You can find events and resources on the official NAIDOC website.

Celebration and truth-telling sit side by side during NAIDOC Week. Alongside the achievements, there is honest acknowledgement of the ongoing impacts of colonisation — and few of those impacts are as far-reaching, or as often misunderstood, as intergenerational trauma.

Understanding intergenerational trauma

Intergenerational trauma describes how the effects of trauma can be passed down through families and communities, from one generation to the next. It is not something a person is born with. It is the result of profound harm — and, crucially, of that harm never being properly acknowledged or healed.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, much of this trauma stems from colonisation and from the forced removal of children from their families, known as the Stolen Generations. The landmark Bringing Them Home report in 1997 documented these experiences for the first time, and in 2008 the Australian Government delivered a National Apology. Yet the impacts continue to be felt today.

The Healing Foundation, a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, explains that around a third of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are descended from Stolen Generations survivors, and that these families often face poorer health, social and economic outcomes as a direct result. Their work centres survivor-led, community-controlled healing — and it is the best place to hear this story told by the people who live it.

How it connects to post-traumatic stress

Trauma that is unresolved does not simply disappear. It can shape how safe a person feels in the world, how they relate to others, and how their nervous system responds to stress — and those patterns can be passed on within families and communities long after the original events.

This is why post-traumatic stress can look different in a context of intergenerational trauma. It may be layered over grief, loss of connection to culture and Country, and the everyday experience of racism and disadvantage. Understanding that wider picture matters, because healing has to hold all of it, not just a single event.

If you are new to the subject, our overview of what post-traumatic stress is is a useful starting point.

Healing led by community

One of the most important things NAIDOC Week highlights is that healing is already happening — and that it works best when it is led by First Nations people themselves. Connection to Country, culture, language, kinship and Elders is not a nice addition to healing. For many communities, it is the foundation of it.

Community-controlled organisations, cultural practices, storytelling and truth-telling all play a role. The strength reflected in this year’s 50 Years of Deadly theme is a reminder that alongside the harm, there is enormous resilience, leadership and pride.

How to take part respectfully

NAIDOC Week is for everyone to take part in, while keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures at the centre. Some simple, respectful ways to engage:

• Attend a local NAIDOC event, exhibition or flag-raising ceremony.
• Learn about the traditional custodians of the land where you live and work.
• Listen to First Nations voices and follow First Nations–led organisations.
• Read, watch and share resources created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rather than speaking on their behalf.

Where to find support

If this article raises difficult feelings, support is available.

• 13YARN — 13 92 76 — a national crisis support line staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lifeline-trained supporters.
• Lifeline — 13 11 14 — 24-hour crisis support for anyone in Australia.
• The Healing Foundation — information, resources and pathways to healing for Stolen Generations survivors, descendants and communities.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.

FearLess and community

FearLess is a charity supporting people living with post-traumatic stress and their families across Australia and New Zealand — including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate the strength and leadership of First Nations peoples, and the healing they continue to lead.

If you believe everyone living with post-traumatic stress deserves better access to information, community and care, you can support our work or explore more on the FearLess blog.

This article is for general awareness only. FearLess is not a medical organisation, and this content is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek support from an appropriately qualified professional for your own circumstances. If you are in danger, call 000.