This year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme is ‘Little Voices, Loud Futures’.
SNAICC (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Incorporation), the National Voice for Aboriginal Children, are encouraging us all to unite and raise awareness for the bright futures of Aboriginal babies, toddlers and children, and the potential for their voices to pave a new path for our nation.
National Aboriginal Children’s Day calls for a future where Aboriginal Children are proud and empowered by their culture to speak their truth and be listened to by all Australians.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day History
The 4th of August was historically used to communally celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families at a young age, without knowing their birthday – the Stolen Generations.
While the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are thriving and growing up strong in their cultures, with support from their families and communities, many continue to face discrimination, poverty, systemic removal, intergenerational trauma, dislocation from land and culture, and community disempowerment.
Tweddle’s RAP and Aboriginal Leadership
Tweddle, now working on our RAP Innovate, acknowledges that working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities helps to gain a greater understanding of transgenerational trauma impacts. This is important because we believe in delivering inclusive practice and programs in the best interest of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies, children, and families.
Tweddle Chair and proud Gunditjmara woman Ms Annette Vickery leads Thirrili, an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation which provides support to Aboriginal communities to reduce the trauma of the impacts of suicide and works with communities to implementation of self-determined plans to restore resilience in their communities in the aftermath of suicide.
Annette says “Tweddle is committed to providing accessible, inclusive practices and programs in the best interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families for a safe, thriving and strong start to life. We believe that indigenous babies and toddlers’ lives are better when they are connected to family, community, culture, and Elders.”
SNAICC’s 10th National Conference 5-7th September
In September, Tweddle Foundation Chair Dr Nicole Milburn will join Ashley Morris, Manager Koori Services and Programs (Children’s Court of Victoria), Meena Singh – Aboriginal Children’s Commissioner (Victorian Commission for Children and Young People) and Matthew Wilson – Program Manager (Family Drug Treatment Court Victoria) to speak at SNAICC’s 10th National Conference 5-7th September.
The work of the Marram-Ngala Ganbu program will be presented as one example of a specific approach to Aboriginal families in the Children’s Court, and Commissioner Singh will lead a group discussion advocating for change the Child Protection Court system in Australia so it better meets the needs of Aboriginal families.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture must play an integral role in developing positive outcomes for early childhood when it comes to Aboriginal children.
Strength and vitality have been passed down to Aboriginal babies, families and communities through rich cultural traditions, shared by the voices of previous generations.
By creating layers of culturally safe protection, support and community around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, we can enable Aboriginal babies and children to grow into elders whose voices can be echoed for generations to come.
#NATSIChildrensDay
#LittleVoices#LoudFutures
#LittleVoices
To learn more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day visit https://aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/
