Help us create a deadly playlist for NAIDOC Week and you could win a $129 speaker!
We’re gearing up for NAIDOC Week from Sunday 5 to 12 July 2026 – when we celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – and nothing says celebration more than music.
Aboriginal songlines – known as navigational tracks – enable elders to ‘sing the landscape’, with research showing that up to 70 percent of Indigenous songs include knowledge about animals, plants and seasonality.
In a contemporary setting, Australia’s new wave of First Nations musicians are currently creating some of the most innovative tunes out there. From established stars like The Kid Laroi, Briggs, Thelma Plum, Gurrumul and Baker Boy to Emily Wurramara, Ziggy Ramo and Alice Sky, these artists are fusing the traditional and modern to tell stories of racism, identity, inequality, love and survival.
Keen to hear more from Indigenous artists? Triple J features Blak Out, a weekly First Nations show, every Sunday from 5–6pm.
Share your faves for our playlist!
We’re creating a playlist of Indigenous tunes that we’ll play throughout NAIDOC Week. To be launched on Monday 6 July, you’ll hear it in Student Central and at cafes across campus throughout that week. You’ll also be able to download it for your study and party needs!
Even better, the first 100 students to submit a song will go into the draw to win an Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Black valued at $129, so hurry!
Just submit your favourite song using the form below and we’ll add it to our Spotify playlist. You’ve got until 5pm on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to tell us your go-to tune.
Any songs with explicit references or profanity will be excluded from the final playlist, so keep it clean!
The competition has now closed, thank you to everyone who submitted. Congratulations to our winner, Millie Kearney!
You can listen to the playlist on Spotify or hear it across campus and at events during NAIDOC Week.
Events on campus
Throughout NAIDOC Week and beyond, Deakin will be running activities including a Welcome to Country and trivia on the DUSA Market Days for each campus, as well as an oration at The Edge in Federation Square.
The promoter of this competition is Deakin University ABN 56 721 584 203 of 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong VIC 3220.
Information on how to enter forms part of these Terms and Conditions. By entering, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and entries must comply with these Terms and Conditions to be valid.
This competition is governed by the laws in force in the state of Victoria, Australia.
The competition
The competition is free to enter and is strictly only open to current Deakin students. These students must also complete and submit an entry in the manner set out in the Terms and Conditions.
Entrants may only enter the competition once.
Staff employed by Deakin and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the competition.
Competition period
The competition period is from Wednesday 24 June 2026 to 5pm, Wednesday 1 July 2026.
Prizes
There will be a prize pool of one Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Black.
The total value of the prize is $129.
How to enter
Students must fill in their details (name, student ID, Deakin email address, song title, song artist) in the form on this blog.
Selection and notification of winner
The winners will be drawn at random if their song meets the criteria for selection, which includes:
must be indigenous music
have no explicit references or profanity.
The winner will be notified by email by Monday 6 July 2026.
The winner will be required to confirm their student ID number to verify they are a current Deakin student.
The winner will be able to collect their prize from the campus of their choice or nominate an address for it to be sent via registered mail.
Prizes are not transferable and are not redeemable for cash. Deakin’s decision is final and binding – no correspondence will be entered into. Deakin accepts no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected entries or other communications. Entries will be deemed void if forged, manipulated or tampered with in any way.
Entrants consent to Deakin using their name, image or voice for promotional purposes. Entrants agree to make themselves available for a photograph and interview in the event that theirs is the winning entry and if requested by Deakin.
The winner consents to their name and photograph being published on Deakin social media and other digital channels if requested to in any and all forms as determined by the Division of Student Services.
Privacy collection, use and disclosure statement
Personal Information provided to Deakin University by entrants will be used to notify the winner of the competition. A photograph of the winners may be published on Deakin University’s social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, WordPress and Instagram and other digital channels such as the Deakin Life blog.
Deakin University complies with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) in its treatment of personal information. Entrants have a right to access their personal information held by the University. Requests for access to personal information are managed under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic).
