As NAIDOC Week 2025 celebrated this year's theme - The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy - Evolve Communities championed young First Nations voices through a series of yarning webinars, reaching hundreds of Australians in a powerful act of allyship and cultural awareness.

Evolve Communities is Australia's trusted authority for Indigenous cultural awareness, allyship, and facilitator training, offering both online and in-person programs. Co-directed by proud Bardi woman and Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Munya Andrews, and passionate non-Indigenous ally, Carla Rogers, Evolve is committed to building a kinder, more inclusive Australia through First Nations-led education.

Most recently, Evolve hosted five of their signature yarning webinars throughout NAIDOC Week, with a focus on centring young First Nations voices and allyship. The webinars are grounded in the cultural practice of the yarning circle, inviting participants to sit, listen, and learn as if gathered around a fire.

The program proved hugely popular. Their public access webinar on 10 July welcomed over 600 live participants, with approximately 2,000 people registered to receive the recordings.

Aunty Munya commented that these webinars were "a little bit different", citing the 2025 NAIDOC theme as the reason behind the shift.

"Because the theme for NAIDOC this year is the next generation, I said to Carla, you know what? We need to take a back seat and let the young ones pop up now and get this spotlight," she said.

"So for me, it's about promoting the younger generation, particularly those who are our future leaders. It's important that they get exposed now and can find their voices and to use them."

A central part of the webinars was the panel of young First Nations Evolve facilitators from across the nation, reflecting on their connection to Country and their hopes for future generations.

"A dream I have for myself and for the community of the future is that reconciliation is taken seriously… It takes effort, it takes systems, and it takes listening. Listening is the real key part - you need to have empathy, and you can only have that if you listen," shared Greg, a Taungurung person.

Aunty Munya recalled one speaker who touched her heart - Stacey, representing Kamillaroi Nation:

"Keep being your deadly self, keep being proud — you bring something so different to the table in any situation you're in. So if you can just be really proud of your uniqueness, of your difference and really celebrate that for yourself, I just know everyone else will celebrate it with you," she said.

"Your identity is yours to walk with, grow into, and define."

Their decision to centre young First Nations team members reflects Evolve's belief in the power of listening and collaboration, a core Indigenous leadership principle outlined in their program vision.

Ms Rogers also recognised the platform as "a real opportunity to stand up and show up as an ally."

"We do work hard at making these digestible for people, and you know, when they've got a non-Indigenous ally, there's that relatability. But I think there are times where you've just got to say suck it up. The whole point of today was about showcasing First Nations voices."

Looking more broadly at Evolve's approach, Aunty Munya and Ms Rogers emphasise that the heart of the organisation is their dedication to building community.

"For me, it's really about the two different peoples in this country and about opening up our hearts and minds and ears so we can appreciate each other's cultures and wisdom," said Aunty Munya.

Ms Rogers added: "Everything is First Nations-led and supported by non-Indigenous allies. That's the model, that's how we do all our business."

"We're all about building thriving communities of allies in Australia because we realise that allies are key to our vision: which is for a kinder, more inclusive Australia that values, honours, respects and learns from First Nations peoples and wisdom."

Reflecting on the treatment of First Nations communities in Australia, Aunty Munya commented that change must come from everyone.

"For change to occur, there has to be that equal valuing and appreciation of each other. That sort of nonsense has just got to stop. All people around the world, all different cultures are smart and clever because we're human beings and we live in this world and we've survived. How about just acknowledging that?"

As a non-Indigenous ally, Ms Rogers reflected on the lessons she continues to learn through First Nations communities, with Evolve's webinars acting as both a platform of teaching and learning for her.

"My whole career, I've been very lucky to work with First Nations people and have only ever experienced incredible generosity and forgiveness, like when I've made all my mistakes, as I do, as an ally."

"Especially working on Country and in communities… the resilience of the communities - I'm just so in awe of how much we have to learn."

Her words serve as a reminder that the journey to reconciliation is built on respect and listening, a hope for the future shared by both First Nations people and allies alike.

More information on Evolve Communities is available online.