Celebrated on the 4th of August for more than 30 years, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (NAICD) has grown every year – becoming a major event in the lives of children, families and community organisations throughout Australia. As we approach this notable date on the Indigenous calendar, it’s important to spread the word and play our part in ensuring a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
What is NAICD?
While some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are thriving within our communities, others still face ongoing challenges that have come about from colonisation including intergenerational trauma, discrimination, poverty, dislocation from land and culture, and community disempowerment.
Research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are twice as likely to show mental vulnerability early in life, and only half as likely to access early education as their non-Indigenous counterparts. This makes it even more important to show our support and celebrate the strengths and culture of our children, as well as continue to develop this sense of culture, family and community for them to ensure a strong future.
With this year’s theme of We Play, We Learn, We Belong, SNAICC – the national voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children – is advocating two key strategies to improve outcomes for our children:
- Integrated, family-focused support programs that impact the home learning environment
- High-quality early education
Read SNAICC’s early years position paper, here to find out more about these strategies.
Getting involved
Looking to join in on this year’s NAICD celebrations? The good news is, there is more than 500 NAICD events held around the country. It doesn’t have to be an organised event though. Whether it’s at your workplace, a school or in partnership with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, getting involved is easy. From organised morning teas, cultural exchanges and concerts, to sporting events and ‘bring your kids to work’ days, there are many ways to show your support.
Summary
It’s no secret that family, community and culture play a massive role in our children’s development – which is what this day is all about! To find out more about NAICD and the various initiatives being carried out to strengthen our future generations, visit the official website for more information.
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