We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this sacred Country, Australia, whose land we come together on to learn, share and grow. We acknowledge the First Nations Peoples of this Country maintain and share knowledge through traditions of art and oral storytelling, which have been practised for thousands of years. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today.
We thank Julie, a loyal customer and mum, who generously shared her ideas, words and inspiration to make this blog post possible. Julie is a proud Wiradjuri woman; who grew up on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. A qualified teacher who has worked in Education for over 20 years, including as a Project Officer in the Koorie Unit at the Department of Education in Victoria.
National NAIDOC(National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July, to celebrate and recognise the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; the oldest continuous civilisation on Earth, with ancestries dating back to more than50,000 years.
Hands-on activities
NAIDOC Week presents a profound opportunity for children and adults alike to explore and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and achievements through meaningful hands-on learning. Meaningful learning unfolds when children engage with their hands, hearts, and imaginations - and what better way to honor the word's oldest continuous cultures than through play, art, and creative expression.
The activities and craft ideas we're sharing can be easily adapted to suit any classroom setting, age group, or learning environment. Whether you're working with early learners discovering colours and textures, or older students ready to dive deeper into storytelling and cultural connections, these play-based experiences offer pathways to understanding that are both respectful and engaging.
Through art, craft and imaginative play, children naturally develop empathy, curiosity, and appreciation for the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These activities aren't just about creating something beautiful - they're about opening conversations, sharing stories, and building bridges of understanding that will last well beyond NAIDOC week itself.
