NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia each July to celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year's theme is ‘Get up! Stand up! Show Up!', calling for all of us to play our part towards systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities.
There are a number of ways early childhood services can take action on the road to reconciliation. Take time to read these actions and discuss how we as individuals and as a wider community can move towards braver and more impactful action for all children.
- Help ensure children have access to early childhood education and care that respects their family, culture and other identities and languages, which is reflected in the:
- Ensure that your service has engaged with its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the development of a
Reconciliation Action Plan. This plan should reflect the needs of your community and be reviewed regularly.
- Build
staff awareness through professional development opportunities.
- Begin meetings and events with an
Acknowledgement of Country.
- Organise a
Reconciliation wall at your service or in your community and invite families and staff to write what reconciliation means to them and identify at least one action they might undertake to contribute to this ongoing journey of reconciliation.
- Find out more about our shared histories, cultures, and
achievements, and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving
reconciliation in Australia.
- Learn about the
Uluru Statement from the Heart.
- Share a story and increase your library resources. The department’s
Dandiiri Schools and Community Library has a comprehensive collection of resources reflecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and politics. Call (07) 3714 8500 or email
atsi.library@qed.qld.gov.au for further details.
Below are some books to consider adding to your services library:
- Finding Our Heart – Thomas Mayor
- My People – Billie-Jean Taylor
- The Coloured Echidna – Eunice Day
- Welcome to Country – Aunty Joy Murphy, Lisa Kenndy
- Mad Magpie – Greg Dreise
- Respect – Aunty Fay Muir
- Father Sky and Mother Earth – Oogeroo
Related resources
Further reading