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Australian Football star and Indigenous leader Adam Goodes celebrated a National Children’s Day event at Redfern Aboriginal Women’s Centre with a story-time for local families and children.
Recognised since 1988, August 4 marks National Children’s Day, which provides an opportunity for Australians to learn about the impact of culture, family and community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
CEO of Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, (SNAICC), Catherine Liddle, said the 2024 Children’s Day theme ‘Strong in Culture, Stronger Together’ is about strengthening Indigenous children’s connection to their mob and culture.
“Children’s Day is a tribute to our youth, who carry forward their rich cultural traditions and stories while also recognising the work and advocacy that needs to be done to support children’s rights,” Ms Liddle said.
“It is also an opportunity for all Australian children to learn about and celebrate the world’s oldest living culture.”
In Redfern, the local Aboriginal Women’s Centre ‘Mudgin-Gal’ meaning ‘Women’s Place’ hosted an event for this year’s Children’s Day for families and children to attend.
The theme was recognised with a story-time featuring retired AFL star Adam Goodes, as well as face-painting and lunch.
CEO of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women’s Centre, Ashlee Donohue, said it is important to include role models like Adam Goodes.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day is all about acknowledging Aboriginal children and bringing in people that are role models in the community to do activities such as story-time, which is what we have taken in for this year and so we got Adam Goodes to come and read a story to the kids here in Redfern,” Ms Donohue said.
To get involved with this years Children’s Day, services, schools and family/children center’s will be encouraging resources such as activity sheets and books for individuals to use to celebrate this years theme.
