Past events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Past events

Showing 1 - 12 of 23 results
A book cover featuring an image of a smiling soldier is pictured next to an image of the book's author sitting outdoors with sunset in background
Book launch: Fighting for Country
23 Sep 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join author James Saunders as he discussed his new book, Fighting for Country, detailing the extraordinary life of his uncle, Reginald Saunders, Australia's first Indigenous military officer in World War II.  

Book lovers
Family historians
First Australians
Foyer
Online
Theatre
Author talk
Book launch
First Australians
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A female singer with long, reddish-brown hair performing live on stage under bright spotlights. She is holding a microphone and appears to be singing passionately.

Wallabindi

Wallabindi: In story and song
02 Sep 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:15pm

We joined First Nations artist and musician Wallabindi for an uplifting evening of music, storytelling and connection.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A group of young girls are sitting on a large white and green mat outdoors, reading books together in a sunny, lush green forest setting.

Image courtesy of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Indigenous Literacy Foundation: Strength in our stories
27 Jul 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Ben Bowen present a lecture on the power of books, language and storytelling to strengthen culture and Community.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Talks and ideas
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
An illustration of black pen on green paper of a snake wrapped around a boom box. This is pictured beside an exhibition sign in a gallery.

(L) Kulata Dennis Nelson and Papunya Literature Production Centre, Pijkatj anta rikulta [The snake and the recorder], 1990, nla.obj-3286603500; (R) Wangka Wakanutja exhibition signage at the entrance to the Library's gallery

Reconciliation Day: Wangka Wakanutja exhibition tours
01 Jun 2026 | 11:00am - 2:00pm

The National Library is proud to participate in Reconciliation Day. Our expert curators ran a free guided tour of our major exhibition Wangka Wakanutja.

First Australians
Kids and families
Visitors
Exhibition Gallery
First Australians
Guided tours
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
library-card-catalogue
Reconciliation Day: First Nations family history tour
01 Jun 2026 | 11:00am - 1:00pm

The National Library is proud to participate in Reconciliation Day. This is an introduction to the First Nations family history resources we offer.

Foyer
First Australians
Guided tours
Places limited
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A short haired woman with black rimmed glasses in a checkered, button down shirt, smiling at the camera

2025 Creative Arts Fellow Julie Gough

Enaction Plan: Reassembling the past with Julie Gough
26 Feb 2026 | 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Julie Gough discussed her recent Fellowship research focusing on colonial collections and their role in shaping Tasmanian Aboriginal histories.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Talks and ideas
Fellowship talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
An man sits in an empty grandstand

Image courtesy Anne Algar

Deadly Dialogues: Bringing Them Home Oration with Kutcha Edwards
06 Aug 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Kutcha Edwards delivered the inaugural Bringing Them Home Oration.

Theatre
First Australians
Deadly dialogues
Past event
Talks and ideas
On the left is a smiling woman with brown hair. In the middle is the cover of the book 'A Good Kind of Trouble' by Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward with a drawing of a teenage girl carrying a football under her arm and a backpack on her back. On the right is a smiling woman with pink hair.
A Good Kind of Trouble with Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward
08 Jul 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Brooke Blurton and Dr Melanie Saward yarned about their new young adult novel, A Good Kind of Trouble, and what it means to write Indigenous-led stories for today’s young people.

Online
Theatre
Books and authors
Author talk
First Australians
Past event
Photos of Adam Ford, Jilda Andrews, Lucy Hannan, Phyllis Williams and Rebecca Bateman

Adam Ford, Jilda Andrews, Lucy Hannan, Phyllis Williams and Rebecca Bateman

Lunchtime yarn: ICIP across the National Cultural sector
27 May 2025 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Staff from across Canberra’s National Cultural Institutions shared their experiences working with Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Workshops and seminars
Book cover for 'Dirraywadha' by Anita Heiss next to a photo of Anita Heiss sitting on some concrete steps
Teacher Professional Development with Dr Anita Heiss
15 May 2025 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Dr Anita Heiss conducted a teacher professional development workshop.

Theatre
Education/learning
First Australians
Past event
Workshops and seminars
Workshop
Cover of book 'Red Dust Running' by Anita Heiss next to a picture of Anita Heiss sitting on concrete steps smiling
Book launch: Red Dust Running with Anita Heiss
14 May 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Anita Heiss discussed her new book 'Red Dust Running'.

Online
Theatre
Books and authors
Book launch
First Australians
Past event
Black and white image of a man, woman and child sitting at a beach looking out towards the ocean

One with the Land ... Waiting for the Sacred Fish to come in : Maynard Williams , leena Watts, Joy Anne Williams - Llarabin Beach , Mornington Island QLD 1978 - Juno Gemes ©

In Conversation: Until Justice Comes with Juno Gemes, Djon Mundine and Michael Aird
02 May 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Juno Gemes, Djon Mundine and Michael Aird shared their own personal histories as friends, colleagues and collaborators, telling the true history of Australia.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Past event
Talks and ideas

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