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Aboriginal Early Years
Events Calendar 2014–15
Important Dates
TERM DATES 2014—15
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2014—15
3 April 2015, Good Friday
2014
4 November 2014, Melbourne Cup
4 April 2015, Easter Saturday
Term 3: 14 July to 19 September
25 December 2014, Christmas Day
6 April 2015, Easter Monday
Term 4: 6 October to 19 December
26 December 2014, Boxing Day
25 April 2015, ANZAC Day
2015
1 January 2015, New Year’s Day
8 June 2015, Queen’s Birthday
Term 1: 28 January* (teachers start) to 27 March
26 January 2015, Australia Day
Term 2: 13 April to 26 June
9 March 2015, Labour Day
Significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander dates
26 May 2015, National Sorry Day
6–13 July 2014, National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee
(NAIDOC) Week
27 May – 3 June 2015, Reconciliation Week
4 August 2014, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (NATSICD)
9 August 2014, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
3 September 2014, Indigenous Literacy Day
13 February 2015, Anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People
27 May 2015, Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
3 June 2015, Mabo Day
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development acknowledges the
Traditional Custodians and their Elders of the lands and seas across Victoria.
* The first day of Term 1 is a student-free day in all government schools to allow for appropriate planning to take place for the arrival of students. The remaining three student-free days are determined
by each individual school, so contact your school for details.
Message from the minister
It is with great pleasure that I present to you a copy
of the Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development’s Aboriginal Early Years Events
Calendar and Cultural Learning Kit for 2014-15.
The Aboriginal Early Years Events Calendar and
Cultural Learning Kit 2014-15 is an initiative that
responds to the Victorian Early Years Learning
and Development Framework (VEYLDF) outcome 1,
‘Children have a strong sense of identity’. The
Aboriginal Early Years Events Calendar and Cultural
Learning Kit is a practical tool that promotes
Aboriginal cultural awareness in children and early
childhood services. Developing learning resources
that are responsive to children and their culture is
key to a child’s learning and development.
Promoting respect for diversity assists children to
begin to appreciate the similarities and differences
between cultural groups, while children’s personal,
family and cultural histories shape their learning
and development. Children develop a deeper sense
of identity through participating in celebrations
that are culturally rich and unique.
I encourage all early childhood services to
actively participate, share in and celebrate dates
and events of historical and cultural significance.
Hon Wendy Lovell MLC
Minister for Children & Early
Childhood Development
Acknowledgement of VAEAI, SNAICC and Playgroup Victoria
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) would like to thank the
following Organisations for their contribution and support of the Aboriginal Early Years Calendar
and Cultural Learning Kit 2014–15.
Secretariat of National
Aboriginal and Islander
Child Care
The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander
Child Care (SNAICC) was formally established
in 1981 and is the national non government
peak body in Australia representing Aboriginal
children’s services. The Secretariat of National
Aboriginal and Islander Child Care promotes the
rights, needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Victorian Aboriginal Education
Association Incorporated
The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association
Incorporated is the peak body in Victoria representing
education and training policy, strategy and program
development at the local, state and national levels
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. VAEAI
promote the provision of education and training which
are culturally relevant, reinforce cultural identity
and provides supportive learning environments for
Koorie people.
playgroup victoria
Playgroup Victoria is the peak
body in Victoria representing
children and families and has been helping
families discover playgroup since 1974.
Playgroup Victoria is a member of playgroup
Australia, a collaboration of Australian state
and territory playgroup associations. Playgroup
Victoria is a not for profit organisation that
strives to ensure fun, learning and friendship
at playgroups for all Victorian families.
Artwork: The Possum Skin Cloak
by Emma Bamblett, a Wemba Wemba Woman
July 2014
SUNDAY
6
MONDAY
Did you know?
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
25
26
NAIDOC Week begins
13
NAIDOC Week ends
Term 3 begins
20
21
22
23
24
27
28
29
30
31
Notes
National Aboriginal and
Islander Day Observance
Committee (NAIDOC) Week
National Aboriginal and
Islander Day Observance
Committee (NAIDOC) Week is
held in the first week of July
each year. NAIDOC Week is
an opportunity for Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal people
to celebrate the rich history,
unique vibrant cultures and
achievements of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
peoples.
August 2014
SUNDAY
3
MONDAY
4
TUESDAY
5
Did you know?
WEDNESDAY
6
THURSDAY
7
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
8
9
National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
Children’s Day
International Day of
World’s Indigenous
Peoples
(NATSICD)
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
Children’s Day
National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
Children’s Day (NATSICD) is
an opportunity to celebrate,
highlight and promote the
importance of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children
in the community.
International Day of the
World’s Indigenous Peoples
International Day of the
World’s Indigenous Peoples
is held on August 9 each
year to promote and protect
the rights of the world’s
Indigenous peoples. This
event also recognizes
the achievements and
contributions of the world’s
Indigenous peoples.
September 2014
SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
TUESDAY
2
Did you know?
WEDNESDAY
3
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
6
Indigenous Literacy Day
7
8
9
10
11
12
135
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Term 3 ends
21
22
23
28
29
30
Notes
24
25
26
27
Indigenous Literacy Day
Indigenous Literacy Day
aims to help raise funds
and awareness to improve
literacy levels and the
lives and opportunities of
Indigenous Australians.
October 2014
SUNDAY
5
MONDAY
6
TUESDAY
Did you know?
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
The Aboriginal flag was
designed in 1971 by Harold
Thomas a Luritja man
from the Central Desert of
Northern Territory.
7
8
9
10
11
Black (top): represents
Aboriginal people
Yellow (centre): is for the sun,
the giver of life
Red (bottom): is for the land
14
15
16
17
18
The Torres Strait Islander
flag was created by the
late Bernard Namok from
Thursday Island.
Children’s Week begins
Green: represents the land
Blue: represents the sea
White: represents peace
Black: represents the Torres
Strait Islander peoples
Term 4 begins
12
19
26
Children’s Week ends
Notes
13
20
27
The Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Flags
WEDNESDAY
21
28
22
29
23
30
24
31
25
The dhari (headdress)
represents Torres Strait
Islander people and the five
pointed star represents the 5
major Island groups. The star
also represents navigation,
as a symbol of the seafaring
culture of the Torres Strait.
November 2014
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Did you know?
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Melbourne Cup
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
28
29
Universal Children’s Day
23
30
24
25
26
27
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Art
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander art is the oldest
living form of traditional
art in the world. It plays an
important role in Aboriginal
culture as it is a way of
connecting past with present.
Many Aboriginal art forms
date back as far as 60,000
years ago. This includes rock
carvings, body painting and
ground designs.
December 2014
SUNDAY
Did you know?
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Term 4 ends
21
28
Notes
22
29
23
30
24
31
25
26
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
27
Native Australian Plants
and Animals
Australia has one of the
most diverse selections of
native plants and animals.
Our native animals include
kangaroos, koalas, platypus,
dingos, crocodiles and emus.
Native plants include, wattle
tree, waratah, eucalyptus
gumtrees and banksias.
January 2015
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Did you know?
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
New Year’s Day
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Australia Day
Notes
Term 1 begins (teachers start)
Australia Day
Australia Day is a day when
the nation comes together
to celebrate what’s great
about Australia and being
Australian. Australia Day
is also an opportunity to
recognise the unique status
of the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples as
the first peoples of Australia.
Some Aboriginal people refer
to this day as Survival Day
and commemorate the past
and celebrate the survival of
their culture.
February 2015
Did you know?
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Anniversary of the National
Apology to Australia’s
Indigenous People
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Anniversary of the National
Apology to Australia’s
Indigenous People
February 13 marks the
Anniversary of the formal
apology to Australia’s
Indigenous Peoples. On
this day in 2008, the then
Prime Minister apologised
to Australia’s Indigenous
peoples, particularly the
Stolen Generations and their
families and communities,
for laws, policies and
mistreatment which had
inflicted profound grief,
suffering and loss: “For the
pain, suffering and hurt of
these Stolen Generations,
their descendants and for
their families left behind,
we say sorry”.
.
Notes
March 2015
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Did you know?
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
Labour Day
15
16
Harmony Day
22
23
24
25
26
27
Term 1 ends
29
29
30
31
28
Harmony Day
March 21 marks a day
when all Australians
celebrate cultural diversity,
inclusiveness, respect and
the different cultures that
make Australia a great place
to live. Harmony day is a time
to reflect on where Australia
has come from, recognising
the traditional owners of
this land. The day is also the
United Nation’s International
Day for the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination.
April 2015
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Did you know?
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
Good Friday
5
6
Easter Saturday
7
8
9
10
11
14
15
16
17
18
21
22
23
24
25
Easter Monday
12
13
Term 2 begins
19
20
ANZAC Day
26
Notes
27
28
29
30
Clapsticks were traditionally
made from timber found in
the local area. They were
often traded for different
types of wood not found in
the same area. They were
used to keep rhythm in song,
dance and corroboree in
traditional ceremonies. They
can be painted or burnt but
can also be left plain.
May 2015
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Did you know?
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Anniversary of the 1967
Referendum
National Sorry Day
31
Reconciliation Week begins
National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day
gives Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal people the
chance to come together
and share the steps towards
healing for the Stolen
Generations, their families
and communities who
were removed from their
families and communities.
National Sorry Day also gives
people the chance to make
a practical commitment
towards reconciliation.
These commitments can
include writing messages
and signing ‘sorry books’.
Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation
Week is a time to celebrate
and build on the respectful
relationships shared between
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people and
other Australians. It is a
time for all Australians
to reflect on our shared
histories, contributions
and achievements.
June 2015
SUNDAY
Did you know?
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
11
12
13
Reconciliation
Week ends
Mabo Day
7
8
9
10
Queen’s Birthday
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Term 2 ends
28
Notes
29
30
Aboriginal people are a
diverse group of people who
are descendants of the first
human inhabitants in the
world. Research shows that
Aboriginal people occupied
Australia some 40,000 to
60,000 years ago.
Aboriginal and Torres
Islander people are
sometimes identified or
referred to as;
•• Koori (also spelled
Koorie) – Aboriginal
people in Victoria and
New South Wales.
•• Palawa – Aboriginal people
in Tasmania.
•• Murri – Aboriginal people
in Queensland.
•• Noongar – Aboriginal
people in Western
Australia.
•• Nunga – Aboriginal people
in South Australia.
•• Anangu – Aboriginal
people in Central Australia.
•• Yolngu – Aboriginal people
in Northern Territory
(North-east Arnhem Land).
•• Torres Strait Islanders
are Melanesian peoples
related to the Papuans
of adjoining New Guinea.
Torres Strait Islander
people descend from
5 regions of Torres Strait
Islander communities.