5-12 July 2009National Theme: Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth Agencies are advised that NAIDOC Week will be celebrated from 5 to 12 July 2009. This year's NAIDOC theme is Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. NAIDOC Week celebrations give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people an opportunity to celebrate and share their culture and heritage with the broader Australian community. For further information on NAIDOC visit http://www.naidoc.org.au Agencies are encouraged to support and release Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to participate in NAIDOC Week events, as set out in Chapter 6 of the NSW Government Personnel Handbook (6-19.14.6): A staff member who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian shall be granted up to one day's special leave per year to enable the staff member to participate in the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Commemoration Celebrations. Leave can be taken at anytime during NAIDOC Week, or in the weeks leading up to and after NAIDOC Week as negotiated between the supervisor and staff member. Agencies are also encouraged to fly Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the NSW Flag on their buildings during NAIDOC week. Information on the protocol on flying all flags can be found at: http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/784/Flags_and_Emblems.pdf. John LeeDirector General