National Sorry Day

The Stolen Generations refer to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families by Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions between 1910 and 1970 through a policy of assimilation. The first National Sorry Day was held in 1998 to commemorate the anniversary of the landmark Bringing Them […]

National Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation refers to the mending of a damaged relationship. National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is for Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each Australian can contribute to achieving reconciliation. It is a national campaign celebrating and building on respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples. […]

Mabo Day

The Mabo case (Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992)) was heard over ten years, starting in the Queensland Supreme Court and progressing through to the High Court of Australia. Meriam people of the island of Mer in the Torres Strait,Eddie led the case: Eddie Koiki Mabo (1936-1992), Reverend Dave Passi (1932-2017), Sam Passi […]

Queen’s Birthday (Graduate House closed)

Queen's Birthday is a public holiday in Australia. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the official head of state for Australia is the Monarch of the Realms, currently Queen Elizabeth II. Though born on April 21, 1926, the Queen's official birthday is celebrated on the second Monday of June, a date close to […]

Schools Tree Day

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Chinese proverb Australia has over 24,000 species of native plants. Schools Tree Day is a great way to inspire students to learn about the local environment while playing an active role in their community. Planet Ark has many […]

National Tree Day

National Tree Day was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John, and is Australia's largest community tree planting and nature protection event. The ask for this Day is for one million new native trees and shrubs to be planted across the country. Each year, about 300,000 people volunteer their time to engage in […]

Jeans for Genes Day

1 in 20 kids face a birth defect or genetic disease, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and life-threatening metabolic disorders - with 12 kids born with such every minute worldwide. On the first Friday of August each year, Australians unite on Jeans for Genes Day by wearing their favourite jeans, donating money and purchasing merchandise […]

Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day is to save little lives and support families impacted by the death of a baby or child. The first National Red Nose Day was held in 1988 – asking Australian to “get silly for a serious cause” -- after a number of Sudden Infant Death associations and groups had been formed across […]

National Walk to Work Day

Sponsored by the Australian government and supported by all state and territory governments in this country, National Walk to Work Day involves, as the name suggests, walking to and from work but, of course, could also involve walking away from and back to your home (if you work at home) as well as any other […]

Father’s Day

Though fathers have been honoured since early Christian times through celebrations like St Joseph's Day, the modern-day version started in the United States with both a remembrance service for 360 men killed in a 1908 mining disaster and with Sonora Smart Dodd in Washington state in 11910 wanting to honour her father who was a […]