Museums of History x Muru Mittigar — NAIDOC Cultural Program 2025

Summary

Since 2010, Muru Mittigar has partnered with Museums of History to deliver NAIDOC Week events at Rouse Hill Estate. The 2025 program demonstrated Muru Mittigar’s leadership in cultural demonstration and awareness while leveraging the Museum’s marketing reach and funding support.

The event successfully engaged up to 1,200 attendees over the life of the partnership, with the 2025 program attracting 400 community members — primarily local families — and positioning Muru Mittigar as a trusted cultural leader in the Hills District and surrounding communities.

Program Overview

• Event: NAIDOC Community Celebration
• Location: Rouse Hill Estate
• Audience: Local community members, families and children from Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Blacktown and parts of Hornsby Shire
• Attendance (2025): 400 attendees
• Program elements: Smoking ceremony, Welcome to Country, cultural dancing, storytelling, yarning circles, weaving, children’s activities, nursery and native plant stalls

The event was designed as a family-friendly, informal gathering with strong cultural grounding — making it accessible and engaging for non-Indigenous families while honouring Dharug traditions.

Muru Mittigar’s Contribution

Cultural Leadership

• Wayne and David co-hosted the event, conducting the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, guiding attendees through the day and encouraging participation in activity stalls.
• Dharug Elder Uncle Colin attended, ensuring cultural integrity, guidance and a strong connection to Country.

Community Engagement

• Delivered cultural performances and interactive activities that resonated strongly with children and families.
• Dancing and boomerang throwing emerged as the most popular experiences, highlighting the importance of hands-on cultural learning.

Strategic Outcomes

1. Community Reach and Impact

• Attendance exceeded expectations, with more families and non-Indigenous participants than in previous years.
• Reinforced Muru Mittigar’s reputation as a cultural knowledge-holder beyond Aboriginal community circles.

2. Cultural Education and Engagement

• Feedback highlighted a strong desire for more opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture, particularly within schools.
• Activities created a welcoming and safe environment for cultural exchange and learning.

3. Partnership Effectiveness

• Museums of History’s marketing (letterbox drops reaching 16,000–24,000 households) combined with Muru Mittigar’s cultural leadership delivered a high-impact result on a modest budget.
• Demonstrated that this collaboration model is both scalable and sustainable.

Opportunities and Recommendations

Enhance Learning Opportunities

• Reintroduce language workshops, structured Q&A sessions and cultural education segments to deepen engagement.
• Explore tailored cultural programs for children and youth, building on strong family participation.

Strengthen Community Involvement

• Encourage greater Elder participation across future programs.
• Provide opportunities for young Aboriginal people to share artistic, musical and cultural talents.

Visibility and Documentation

• Invest in professional photography and videography to capture the event’s cultural impact for stakeholders and funders.
• Collect formal feedback onsite to inform and strengthen future NAIDOC event planning.

Sustainability and Growth

• Explore diversified funding to expand program elements and reach.
• Use this event as a model to approach new cultural partnerships across Sydney and beyond.

Final Comments

The 2025 NAIDOC Cultural Program at Rouse Hill Estate underscores the strategic value of Muru Mittigar’s long-term partnership with Museums of History. This collaboration continues to elevate Muru Mittigar’s standing as a trusted cultural authority while demonstrating a proven, scalable model for delivering high community engagement with modest resources.

The outcomes show that Muru Mittigar is not only meeting community expectations, but also driving demand for deeper cultural learning opportunities. The program reinforced our ability to extend influence beyond Aboriginal community circles, positioning Muru Mittigar as a leader in reconciliation-focused education and engagement.

Looking ahead, this partnership creates a strong foundation for:

• Expanding into structured educational programming for schools and youth.
• Strengthening Elder and youth participation to ensure cultural continuity.
• Leveraging marketing and documentation to attract diversified funding and new cultural partnerships across Sydney.