For Commander Mick Henry, NAIDOC Week is about continuing his journey in understanding his ancestry and ensuring the rich and diverse culture of First Nations people is never forgotten.
Growing up, Commander Henry's family rarely discussed his father's ancestry.
His grandmother and father were not fully accepted by society, and they suffered during a period of extreme prejudice towards Indigenous Australians.
This upbringing is what fuels Commander Henry's passion for NAIDOC, and the chance it presents to share his journey.
As Navy's most senior Indigenous member, and Navy's Indigenous Adviser, Commander Henry strives to be a role model for all First Nations members in the ADF.
Commander Henry joined on a Supplementary List Commission in 1990 as a maritime warfare officer.
After qualifying on major and minor fleet units he was posted as an executive officer to a minor war vessel in 1995. These were the first steps across a broad career, including multiple deployments and postings to the Defence Intelligence Organisation and HMAS Creswell.
Commander Henry's outstanding performance is reflected in his commendations, which include a Naval Systems Command Commendation.
After a period as an active reservist at HMAS Albatross, Commander Henry returned to full-time service in 2017 and was promoted to commander this year, on assuming the role as Navy's Indigenous Adviser.
A culmination of an outstanding and wide-reaching career, Commander Henry is immersed in the responsibility of his new role and encourages other Indigenous members to connect with the Navy Indigenous team.
"Being self-identified with the Navy Indigenous team has benefited me on my journey," Commander Henry said.
"The team is well connected and have a wealth of knowledge in supporting members as they undertake a personal journey or just want to have a yarn about issues affecting them."
This NAIDOC Week, Commander Henry is encouraging members to reflect on the importance of Indigenous Elders and the role they play in maintaining their culture.
"Without our Elders - the custodians of Indigenous lore - the rich and diverse culture of First Nations people which is celebrated at NAIDOC is forgotten, and fractious elements will only be found as an extract in some history book," he said.
"For me, our Elders are the lynchpin for keeping Indigenous culture alive and keeping the fires burning."
