Celebrating NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week | 6-13 July 2025
Celebrating NAIDOC Week: An Aboriginal Perspective on Culture, Community and Early Learning Spaces
At Step4, we believe that early learning environments should be places where all children feel seen, valued, and connected – spaces that reflect the cultural richness of Australia and celebrate the stories of its First Nations peoples.
NAIDOC Week is a powerful opportunity for early childhood centres to acknowledge, learn from, and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and contributions. This week invites reflection, recognition, and meaningful action – especially in the early learning sector, where lifelong values begin to take shape.
We spoke with Jess Hopcroft, a talented Aboriginal designer whose work features across many early childhood education spaces nationwide. Her thoughtful designs not only bring beauty to early learning centres, but help embed Aboriginal culture in a way that feels genuine and deeply rooted in story and community.
We asked Jess to share her perspective on what NAIDOC Week means to her – and how her work is creating culturally safe and inclusive learning environments for young children.
What does NAIDOC Week mean to you and your family?
NAIDOC Week is a really special time for our family. It’s a chance to come together and celebrate our culture, history, and resilience. It’s also a time to reflect on the strength of our ancestors and the continuing importance of culture in our everyday lives.
How will you be celebrating this year?
We’ll be spending time with our community, friends, and family, attending our local NAIDOC events. I’ll also be involved in a few art-related projects and workshops during the week which will be awesome.
What does it mean to have your work represented in early childhood centres across Australia?
It really means so much to me. Knowing that my art is helping to share and embed Aboriginal culture into early learning environments is incredibly special. These are the spaces where children begin to form their understanding of the world, and I’m proud that my work can play a small role in shaping culturally safe and inclusive places.
About Jess
Jess Hopcroft is a proud Aboriginal woman that loves sharing and embracing her culture with the world. She’s happily married with two beautiful daughters living on Wonnarua country. She was born and raised in Awabakal land with her ancestral family connections with the Barkindji, Ngemba, Gamilaraay-Yuwaalaraay areas of NSW.
Jess’s art depicts the beauty of nature and its elements. She draws inspiration from the beautiful country on which we live, as well as creating art that is reflective of family, community and belonging.
EXPLORE JESS HOPCOFT’S DESIGNS
Creating Early Learning Spaces that Honour Culture and Connection
Jess’s reflections highlight the vital role that authentic Aboriginal perspectives play in early childhood education. Through creative expression and cultural storytelling, her work is helping to shape inclusive early learning environments that empower children and educators alike.
At Step4, we’re proud to collaborate with First Nations artists and designers whose voices and vision enrich the early learning sector. As we celebrate NAIDOC Week, we encourage early learning centres to explore meaningful ways to incorporate Aboriginal culture into their daily practices – not just this week, but all year round.
Let’s continue to create nurturing, culturally inclusive spaces that reflect the communities we serve – and help every child feel at home.
EXPLORE INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES
Tags: learning activities, play-based learning, transition to school
