National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day celebrated in style

The NSW Department of Education celebrated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day in style with an event in the regional community of Tamworth. 

The event showed the talents of a proud group of children from Birrelee MACS (Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service) who took centre stage singing in language and performing a dance showcasing native animals. 

The free event also promoted early childhood education and care (ECEC) and brought together one of the largest regional Aboriginal communities in the state for a day of performances and activities for families and children from birth to five years of age to enjoy, hosted by Aboriginal actor and Play School presenter Luke Carroll.

Performances included Play School live in concert; one of Australia’s finest didgeridoo players, Aboriginal musician Mark Atkins; Gomeroi musician and Moree Secondary College student Kyla-Belle Roberts, 15; and Wiradjuri performer, Uncle Johnny Huckle.

It was a wonderful celebration which embraced the 2024 Children’s Day theme of Strong in Culture, Stronger Together, focusing on the strength of children that comes from connection to culture, Country and mob.   

 NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar attended the event , now in its second year.

“We are thrilled to host the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day event for the Aboriginal communities in New England to celebrate our early childhood education and care sector,” Mr Dizdar said.  

 ”It’s essential for children to embrace and be proud of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture from an early age, with these values, identity and language being passed on from generations in the oldest continuous living culture in the world. 

 “We know that culture is central to a child’s sense of belonging and success in lifelong learning. The Early Years Learning Framework that guides all early learning services asks our educators to build upon children’s understandings of diversity, and specifically Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.” 

Connecting children to culture is something which Birrelee MACS has been doing for more than 40 years, by teaching children traditional dance, storytelling and giving lessons in language.

The service prides itself on providing a place to reflect and strengthen Aboriginal identity within the wider community, service director Rachael Phillips said.

“We have been working hard to pass on culture and make it part of everyday practice,” she said.

“Children are going straight to the clapsticks in the morning to play with them, they’re singing to themselves and facilitating their own learning. What I want for the future is for our children to live knowing they are strong and beautiful black cultural kids.”

Ms Phillips took home the Individual Leadership Award at the 2023 HESTA Early Childhood Education and Care Awards for her work in advancing education for First Nations children and for advocating for more culturally appropriate early learning settings.   

To learn more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day please see here.