Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is working to Close the Gap across the region and is excited to announce the first Ngangga on Phillip Island.

The free event will celebrate NAIDOC Week on July 6 and will see First Nations-owned stallholders, volunteers, community organisations, musicians and artists come together to celebrate culture through fun activities, games, live music, deadly information and support, arts, crafts and more. 

Aligning with the 2025 NAIDOC theme of Next Generation, Strength, Vision and Legacy, Ngangga aims to empower young people and families to celebrate, experience and learn more of our shared history.

The one-day festival will run from 12pm-7pm at Bernenneit in Cowes, starting with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. 

Everyone is invited to come along and be part of the day-long activities, to be followed by an evening performance from Uncle Kutcha Edwards (tickets required) at Bernenneit.

The network is currently seeking expressions of interest from First Nations stallholders and performers to take part in Ngangga.

You can now register your organisation, business, and/or community group's interest to be a stallholder, provide a live performance, or lead a cultural activity at the event by completing the online form on the Bass Coast Shire website/Reconciliation. 

Applications close Sunday 6 April.

Ngangga - meaning to hear, to understand, to listen in Boonwurrung language - welcomes First Nations Peoples with our allies and supporters, residents and tourists to share our history, celebrate culture, ancestors and elders, and elevate the voices and visibility of First Nations Peoples.

The event will create an exciting future for next generations through supporting young people to work to self-determination and economic prosperity. 

Bass Coast Reconciliation Network has run many reconciliation events including a Bridge Walk for Reconciliation in 2022 where more than 1000 community members walked across the bridge from San Remo to Phillip Island.