Families of over 60 students at Collarenebri Central School were gifted specially-made portraits of their children as part of a project helping connect with their history as NAIDOC Week marks 50 years.

Over three days, a professional photographer from Bathurst took the students, who posed in regalia they made themselves.

The students then drew words and sketches on the photos describing their thoughts on their identity.

Collarenebri-raised Aunty Roslyn McGregor helped the students find their words with her knowledge of local and family history.

"Aboriginal people, we weren't allowed into the school 'till 1941," said Aunty Roslyn, who is also the president of the Collarenebri Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

"Aboriginal parents tried to enrol their children at school in 1941 and 14 kids came that day.

"Non-Aboriginal parents kept their kids away."

Thirty-six white children went to school when their Aboriginal peers first enrolled, while over 60 were kept home by their parents in protest.

"It was on the strength of those 14 that we get to be here today. That's the legacy they left," Aunty Roslyn said.

"They (the 2025 students) wrote about being kind, being good at understanding others.

"They get their strength from their family and friends and being respectful.

"There's a vision they have for themselves."

The portraits were framed and presented at a school assembly on 2 July, where at least 200 people attended.

Aunty McGregor said the project aided school attendance, while students also took part in sessions last week involving Indigenous language and baking Jonny cakes.

The project received a grant $1000 grant from non-profit Outback Arts and is based around the NAIDOC theme 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.'

"It's about dhaiiyaan (family), as they say in the Kamilaroi," principal Natalie Cavaleri said.

"This is something where families didn't have these pictures in their home. Now, they've got these pictures, these beautiful pictures that symbolise the strength of their child, the vision and the future generation that they all are."

NAIDOC was established in 1975 to celebrate Indigenous cultures.

The official week will run between 6-13 July, although the school held their NAIDOC assembly before the end of Term 2 this week.