National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day

This week, Sunday August 4, is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day.

This important celebration offers an opportunity for all Australians to show their support for Aboriginal children, as well as learn about the crucial impact that community, culture, and family play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.

In 2019, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day is celebrating the early years and promoting the importance of early years education and care for young Aboriginal children. The theme for this year is We Play, We Learn, We Belong and the ambassador is Nanna from the animated children's series 'Little J and Big Cuz'.

The first National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day was established on 4 August in 1988 and was set against the backdrop of protests led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their supporters during the bicentennial year, when it was decided a special day was needed to celebrate Aboriginal children and to give them confidence and make them feel included.

Children's Day has grown every year, becoming a major event in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and community organisations. In communities throughout Australia this special day has been celebrated with activities such as cultural events, open days, arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, concerts, morning teas, and community barbecues. SNAICC (the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care) organises a national launch for Children's Day, held at a different location each year.

Every year the wider community has increasingly taken the lead in celebrating Children’s Day with diverse celebrations across the country. Each year SNAICC produces and distributes resources to help local communities and organisations celebrate the day, including 15,000 Children's Day bags and other resources to support more than 500 community events across Australia.

SNAICC have suggested a range of ways for early childhood providers to recognise and be involved in this special day such as:

• Arrange for children to create their own paintings and artwork about the Children's Day theme and display them for everyone to enjoy.
• Organise an open day or morning tea for people to share.
• Arrange for children to do culturally relevant activities.
• Promote the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in your local community through young achiever awards.
• Bring Elders, families and their children together in your service for storytelling and cultural activities.
• Have a flag raising ceremony with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
• Hold a fete or fund raising activity for children in your community.
• Organise sporting events or competitions for children and young people.
• Invite local leaders, politicians and Elders to spend some time at your service

For more information and how to register your event click here.