HIPPY Australia

29/09/2026

10/08/2026

Last week HIPPY Australia and Brotherhood of St. Laurence hosted an online panel for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.

Guided by this year’s theme, , the panel explored the important role families, communities, and organisations play in raising strong, confident, and proud children.

Hosted by Thomas Harrison, a proud Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung man and Site Advisor for the First Nations Network at HIPPY Australia, the conversation explored the importance of truth-telling and how stories, knowledge and experiences are passed on to children to strengthen identity, belonging and cultural pride.

A big thank you to Nola Earnshaw, a proud Wardandi Ballardong Noongar woman and the HIPPY Gosnells Coordinator at Communicare, and Jenna Ahmat, a proud Bangerang and Badu Islander woman and Manager of First Nations Strategy and Outcomes at BSL, for sharing your knowledge and reflections with us.

04/08/2026

Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day!

This year’s theme, Living Our Truth, celebrates and honours the importance of truth-telling, storytelling and knowledge shared across generations.

To mark the day, we have created colouring and storytelling resources featuring artworks by Lena Smith. Through art and play, children can share ideas, use their imagination and tell stories in their own way.

Today we celebrate the next generation of leaders, and recognise the important role families, communities, and organisations play in raising strong, confident, and proud children.

Download the activity sheet here:https://assets.hippyaustralia.bsl.org.au/assets/Social_media/HA_ChildrensDay_ActivityPack_LenaSmith_2026.pdf

SNAICC-National Voice for our Children

03/08/2026

Tomorrow is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day!

This year's theme celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children growing up strong and proud, guided by culture, community and a connection to Country.

To help celebrate the day we have put together a fun activity featuring Lena Smith’s much-loved animal characters from the HIPPY Australia activity packs!

You can download it here: https://assets.hippyaustralia.bsl.org.au/assets/Social_media/HA_NATSICD_Activity_StoryPuppet_2026.png

Join the celebration and learn more about Children’s Day at SNAICC-National Voice for our Children: https://www.snaicc.org.au/our-work/campaigns/childrens-day/

07/07/2026

Happy NAIDOC Week!

This year’s theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’, honours 5 decades of and celebrates the generations who built the movement, the people leading change today, and looks ahead to the next 50 years and beyond.

NAIDOC Week is a time to listen, learn, and celebrate. Talk with your little ones, friends and family about Country, culture and community, and find out what is happening near you.

Find a National NAIDOC Week event near you: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events

02/07/2026

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’, recognises half a century of celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements each July.

In Australia, we are lucky to live on lands cared for by First Nations people for more than 65,000 years. These lands and waterways are home to some of the richest and oldest continuous cultures in the world. There truly is so much to celebrate; learn and connect with, and NAIDOC Week is an invaluable opportunity to do so.

Read more about the history of NAIDOC Week at https://www.indigenous.gov.au/stories/history-naidoc-week

19/06/2026

03/06/2026

Today we honour the life and legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo, a proud Meriam man who fought for more than a decade to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connection to Country legally recognised.

The 1992 High Court ruling rejected the lie of terra nullius. It recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold rights to land under traditional law and custom, paving the way for the Native Title Act 1993.

As comes to an end, we reflect on Mabo’s legacy. We are reminded that truth-telling, justice and the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuing connection to Country must be at the heart of reconciliation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the following content contains images or names of people who have passed away.

Mabo Day honours the life and legacy of proud Meriam man Eddie Koiki Mabo and celebrates the 1992 High Court decision that officially recognised First Peoples occupied the lands and waterways of what is now considered Australia before colonisation -- and therefore had Native Title rights. This historic decision rejected the concept of terra nullius, which the Crown used to claim Australia was a land belonging to no-one prior to British occupation. The ruling, in favour of Mabo and other claimants, recognised that their people had occupied the island of Mer in the Torres Strait before colonisation.

Today also marks the end of National Reconciliation Week -- but as 2026’s ‘All in’ theme reminds us: reconciliation is a daily commitment, and Mabo’s 10-year legal fight should continue to inspire our advocacy and work for a fairer, more just society.

Every employee and volunteer at BSL is invited to join us on this essential journey.

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence reaffirms its ongoing commitment to reconciliation, truth-telling and self-determination. We are proud to stand in solidarity with First Nations people and to support Australia’s first Treaty process in Victoria.

Photo credit: Reconciliation Victoria

01/06/2026

This Global Day of Parents, we’re celebrating parents, carers and parental figures as their child’s first and most important teachers.

For one HIPPY Bundaberg parent and Tutor, joining HIPPY was about giving their daughter the best possible start.

"HIPPY gave me community, purpose, and a chance to provide my daughter with what I missed out on. Not just education, but connection.”

HIPPY Australia supports families across remote, regional and urban communities. With support from local Tutors, fun activities and resources, families build learning into everyday life at home — growing confidence, connection and strong foundations for children’s learning.

Today, we celebrate all parents and caregivers, and the important role they play in helping children grow and thrive.

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HIPPY Bundaberg is delivered locally by CQID

27/05/2026

National Reconciliation Week starts today

This year’s theme, All In, reminds us that reconciliation will not happen by itself. It asks all of us to take part and commit to meaningful action, every single day.

HIPPY Australia is committed to working in partnership with First Nations communities and organisations through deep listening, respectful engagement, and meaningful action.

What does being mean to you?

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Reconciliation Australia