Written by Michelle Craig
Playgroup WA’s Aboriginal Playgroup Coordinator
NAIDOC Week is celebrated every year in July and is an opportunity for us to pause, reflect and celebrate the many achievements of Aboriginal people including the Aboriginal families, children and staff members that participate in playgroups across the state.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly, is both a reflection and a declaration. It celebrates the strength, resilience and determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledges the generations of people who refused to be silenced. It honours the organisers, artists, activists, Elders and communities who have carried NAIDOC forward over the past 50 years, ensuring it remains grounded in culture, community and connection.
As we celebrate with our children, we invite families to dive deep into the many cultures that make Australia such a rich and diverse nation. By learning about one another’s stories, traditions and experiences, we foster respect, understanding and a sense of belonging for everyone.
We especially encourage families to learn from the world’s oldest continuing culture. Through stories, art, music, language and connection to Country, children can develop an appreciation for the knowledge, wisdom and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
With our local Mob welcoming us onto their ancestral lands, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country and thank them for sharing their culture, stories and connection to place. Together, we acknowledge the past, honour the present and inspire future generations to walk together with respect and understanding.
Playgroup WA has been supporting, servicing and establishing playgroups throughout Western Australia since 1972.
