National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (Children’s Day) is a time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children. The day is 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.

Children’s Day 2016 Theme: My Country, Our Country, We All Belong

Children’s Day is held on 4 August each year and the theme for Children’s Day 2016 is My Country, Our Country, We All Belong. This year Children’s Day is all about helping our kids feel connected and proud in culture. It’s all about ensuring all our kids feel like they belong.

This year’s theme aims to provide a space for everyone to come together to celebrate the achievements of the early learning services and the families and children they support. If we can ensure these services are funded in a sustainable way they can continue to support our kids to stand tall and strong.

How can you celebrate Children’s Day 2016?

Here are some ideas to show your support for Children’s Day.

Host your own Children’s Day event

You could do this at your own work or in partnership with a local Aboriginal organisation or community. Host a community morning tea or a BBQ, hold arts and craft sessions, cultural exchanges, concerts and performances, competitions, sporting days, games and activities, and so much more.

Here’s some more ideas:

• Arrange for kids at school or in child care 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 at work for people to bring their children
• Arrange for kids to do culturally relevant activities in services, school, child care, or at home
• Hold a family fun day for foster and kinship carers and their foster children
• Promote the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in your school or local community through young achiever awards
• Organise a children’s picnic or activities in a local park
• Bring Elders, families and their children together in your service or school for storytelling and cultural activities
• Have a flag raising ceremony with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
• Tell your local papers, radio and TV about why your services support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• 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 or school on Children’s Day.

Register your event

Make sure you get involved! Register your event, promote it and let everyone know how you’ll be celebrating our kids on 4 August.

For more information and all enquiries please visit the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day website

What: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

When: 4 August 2016

Where: all around Australia

Who: everybody

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.Images from National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day website.

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