If you’re looking for meaningful NAIDOC Week team building activities for your workplace, you’re in the right place.
Australia has two significant cultural observances that give workplaces a genuine opportunity to engage with First Nations culture rather than simply acknowledge it from a distance.
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year — bookended by two landmark dates in Australian history: the 1967 Referendum and the Mabo Decision.
NAIDOC Week runs during the first full week of July each year — celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week team building is an important time in your company events calendar.
Many organisations mark one or the other with an email, a morning tea, or a flag on the website. The companies that do it well treat both as genuine moments of cultural engagement — and an Aboriginal art workshop is one of the most effective ways to do exactly that.
What is National Reconciliation Week?
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs from 27 May to 3 June, and the dates carry specific significance:
- 27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, in which over 90 percent of Australians voted to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the national census and allow the Commonwealth to make laws for them
- 3 June marks the anniversary of the 1992 Mabo Decision, in which the High Court of Australia recognised the land rights of the Meriam people and overturned the doctrine of terra nullius
Each year carries a theme set by Reconciliation Australia. Recent themes have focused on concepts of voice, truth, action, and the ongoing work of building a reconciled Australia.
For workplaces, NRW is a prompt to reflect on that work — and to take concrete action, not just issue statements. NAIDOC Week team building does just that.
What is NAIDOC Week?
NAIDOC Week — held in the first full week of July — celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The acronym stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, and the week has been observed in various forms since the 1930s.
Each year’s theme is set by the National NAIDOC Committee, and recent themes have centred on concepts like healing Country, keeping the fire burning, and the strength of First Nations communities.
Where Reconciliation Week is focused on the relationship between all Australians and First Nations peoples, NAIDOC Week is specifically a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, identity, and achievement. The two observances complement each other — and together they give Australian workplaces two meaningful moments each year to move from intention to action.
Why an Aboriginal Art Workshop works for both
An Aboriginal art workshop sits naturally in both observances — and for good reason.
Art is central to Aboriginal culture in a way that goes far beyond decoration. It is a form of map-making, storytelling, history, and spiritual connection that has been practised continuously for tens of thousands of years. Engaging with it — under the guidance of an Indigenous artist — is one of the most direct and respectful ways a corporate team can connect with First Nations culture.
Unlike a lecture or a documentary, an art workshop is participatory and combines learning with effective team building. Participants sit alongside their colleagues, guided by an Indigenous artist who shares cultural context, Dreaming stories, and the meaning behind symbols as the work develops. The experience creates genuine connection — between team members, and between participants and a culture that is often misunderstood or seen only at a surface level.
It also produces something lasting: an artwork that can be displayed in the office as a daily reminder of the experience, the stories, and the commitment behind it.
What happens in a Hidden Door Aboriginal Art Workshop
Our Aboriginal art workshops are delivered in partnership with experienced First Nations artists and cultural educators across Sydney.
A typical session runs for 90 minutes to 2 hours and includes:
Cultural introduction The facilitating artist opens with the significance of Aboriginal art — how it functions simultaneously as a map, a history, a language, and a story. Participants learn about symbols, the Dreaming, and the difference between creating art as cultural expression versus decoration.
Guided technique Working with dot painting and traditional mark-making methods, participants create their own artwork under the artist’s guidance. The artist moves through the group, sharing stories and offering encouragement as the work develops.
Personal narrative Participants are invited to incorporate symbols that connect to their own story — making each piece personal, not templated.
Collective reflection The session closes with a group share — participants speak to what they’ve created and what the experience meant to them. This is where much of the team building and cultural value lands.
Tailoring the experience to each observance
While the workshop format is consistent, the framing can be adapted depending on which observance you’re running it for.
For Reconciliation Week: The cultural introduction can focus specifically on reconciliation — what it means, where Australia has come from, and what genuine partnership and respect looks like in practice. The artist can speak to their own experience of reconciliation, what they’d like to see from Australian workplaces, and how the act of engaging respectfully with culture is itself a form of reconciliation.
The Reconciliation Week theme for the year provides a natural anchor for this conversation.
For NAIDOC Week: The framing shifts to celebration — of culture, of survival, of ongoing creative practice. The NAIDOC theme for the year provides context, and the artist can speak more broadly about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement, identity, and the vitality of First Nations culture today. NAIDOC Week team building is a vital workplace activity that should be the top of your to-do list.
Both framings are genuine and meaningful. The choice depends on what your organisation most needs from the experience.
Connecting the workshop to your RAP
For organisations with a Reconciliation Action Plan — or those working toward one — an Aboriginal art workshop timed to either observance is one of the most tangible, visible actions you can take.
RAPs typically include commitments around cultural learning, celebrating First Nations culture, and creating opportunities for Indigenous voices in the workplace. An art workshop delivered by a First Nations artist directly addresses all three.
It also demonstrates to your team that the RAP is a living document, not a policy on a shelf.
If your organisation doesn’t yet have a RAP, Reconciliation Week is an ideal time to begin the conversation internally about what that commitment might look like. Chat with our team about creating a RAP for your organisation.
Making the most of your workshop
Brief your team in advance. Share the observance dates, the theme for the year, and an introduction to the artist facilitating your session. Participants who arrive with context get more from the experience.
Create space for conversation. Encourage your team to ask questions and engage with the artist. The best sessions are dialogues, not demonstrations.
Display the work. Give the artwork a prominent place in the office with a description of the experience behind it. The artwork should be a talking point for months after the event, not stored in a storeroom.
Follow through. Neither Reconciliation Week nor NAIDOC Week is a conclusion — both are starting points. Consider what ongoing commitments your organisation can make: supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, inviting Indigenous speakers to future events, or continuing cultural learning through your team building calendar.
Planning ahead for both observances
| Observance | Dates | Recommended booking lead time |
|---|---|---|
| National Reconciliation Week | 27 May – 3 June | Book by mid-April |
| NAIDOC Week | First full week of July | Book by mid-May |
Both periods see high demand for Aboriginal art workshops — and the number of qualified First Nations artists available to facilitate is finite. We strongly recommend enquiring 6–8 weeks before your preferred date to secure availability.
If you want to run workshops for both observances in the same year, enquire early and we can help you plan across both dates.
Who is this experience right for?
Aboriginal art workshops during Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week work well for:
- Organisations with a RAP looking for concrete cultural learning activities to fulfil their commitments
- Leadership teams that want to model genuine engagement with reconciliation
- Conference and offsite groups seeking a culturally significant breakout experience
- New or growing teams who need a shared experience that builds connection without competition
- Any workplace that wants to move beyond acknowledgement and into genuine cultural engagement
Group sizes from 15 to 200+ can be accommodated across Sydney and NSW, with some availability for Brisbane and Melbourne also.
Hidden Door Experiences has delivered over 200 Aboriginal Art Workshops nationwide, working in partnership with First Nations artists who bring both creative expertise and deep cultural knowledge to every session. Our workshops are designed to leave every participant — regardless of background or prior knowledge — with a genuine connection to the world’s oldest living culture.
Enquire about a Reconciliation Week or a NAIDOC Week team building activity →
Explore our Aboriginal Art Workshop page to learn more about the experience.
You can also click here for our full range team building activities in Sydney.