08/07/2026
Celebrating 50 years of NAIDOC Week ❤️🖤💛
This NAIDOC Week, members of our team joined colleagues from St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane, St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba, and St Vincent's Care at the Art Shell at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane for the launch of the Deadly 50 exhibition.
As we celebrate 50 years of National NAIDOC Week, this year's theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," honours the achievements of the past while looking ahead to the future, recognising the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the generations who will continue to lead, inspire and create lasting change.
The exhibition features 50 powerful portraits and stories of First Nations employees from across St Vincent's Health Australia, celebrating the knowledge, compassion and leadership they bring to patient care, community wellbeing and our shared mission every day. Together, these stories honour where our First Nations staff come from, who they are today and the strength we continue to build for the future.
The morning began with a Welcome to Country from Uncle David Miller, an esteemed Elder and former Queensland National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) representative. Guests then heard reflections from Darlene Dreise, Group Manager Reconciliation.
We were also privileged to hear from Queensland First Nations employees Annette Stevenson, Wade Jackson, Courtney Moy, Josh, and Asunta Garling, who each shared what Deadly means to them and reflected on the importance of culture, identity and connection.
Guests also enjoyed a moving performance by Taleatha Wright-Morgan, before sharing refreshments featuring native Australian ingredients, including jam drops made with emu eggs and freshly baked scones served with homemade fig jam from Figjam & Co.
As we mark this significant milestone, we proudly acknowledge the enduring strength, wisdom and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, celebrate the leadership of our First Nations colleagues, and reaffirm our commitment to listening, learning and walking together towards reconciliation.