Earlier then month we celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day! This day is always a great opportunity to celebrate the strengths, culture and voices of Aboriginal children and young people. This year, we were lucky enough to celebrate on Boandik Country (Mount Gambier), connecting with community, listening to young people, and taking part in community events. One of the highlights of the visit was attending the launch of Our Yarning, a collection of stories created by local authors and community members. It was a privilege to celebrate the people who brought these stories to life as resources like these play a vital role in supporting children’s literacy while also strengthening connections to Country, culture, and identity. A special acknowledgement must go to Aunty Dawn, whose dedication has been instrumental in both the creation of the Our Yarning books and the success of Children’s Day celebrations over recent years. Her leadership, knowledge and commitment have created lasting opportunities for children and young people to connect with culture, stories, and community.
We were also honoured to join the AFSS Aboriginal Children’s Day event on Boandik Country, where of course, Nunga OOG made a special appearance! This day is an important occasion to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal children and young people, particularly those in care, and to acknowledge the strength of their families, cultures, and communities. OGCYP has become a regular attendee at this event, and each year it is an exciting, busy, and welcoming celebration. A heartfelt thank you to the Mount Gambier AFSS team and the wider community for the effort they put into organising and growing this event year after year.
While in Mount Gambier, the Child and Young Person Visitor Program also conducted house visits and met with young people living in residential care. These conversations are an important part of our work, providing an opportunity to hear directly about young people’s experiences and ensuring their voices remain at the centre of what we do. Every visit to the region deepens our understanding of the opportunities, challenges and strengths that shape the lives of young people in the community. Regional visits like this continue to reinforce the strong sense of community that exists across country South Australia. They remind us of the importance of being present, building relationships and creating opportunities to listen and learn. And yes, Nunga OOG even experienced a few regional adventures along the way, including a first flight and visits to the Blue Lake and Little Blue Lake, helping make an already memorable trip even more special.
But the fun wasn’t over! The celebrations continued on Friday when we attended the AFSS Children’s Day event at St Clair Recreation Centre. It was another deadly opportunity to be in community, connecting with families, carers and children, and seeing young people enjoying the day and having fun. Events like these are a powerful reminder of the importance of creating spaces where children feel valued, supported, and celebrated. Thank you to AFSS and the broader community for holding space for our young people and giving them opportunities for fun and recreation.
We end our reflection with a reminder – young people have the right to connect with their culture, this includes knowing their heritage, connecting with Country, learning language, stories and traditions. Young people also have the right to fun and play and what a special way to uphold these rights at an event like Aboriginal Children’s Day 💛🖤❤️
