National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (NATSICD) was celebrated a little bit earlier in Healesville.
Although the NATSICD is held annually on 4 August, Healesville Library hosted an event for the day on Friday 1 August.
In its third year at the local library, the event was enjoyed by dozens of First Nations and non-First Nations children with their parents.
Your Library children’s services officer Rose Herring said the library prepared fun activities for children, including storytime featuring books written and illustrated by First Nations artists, an interactive activity called The Secret World of Food and a morning tea.
“This year, we have teamed up with Vic Health and Eastern Health, featuring The Secret World of Food pop‑up display. This is a hands-on experience where children and their parents move through the full food cycle from farm to compost,” she said.
“The display has a felt vegetable garden where kids can be a farmer, then they can take their produce to the market in little trucks, learning about food miles and how our fruit and veggies travel.
“After being the truck drivers, kids head to the market where they become shopkeepers or shoppers. Then it’s onto making kitchen magic in the toy kitchen where children become chefs, and finally we compost our scraps and worms do their work, showing the cycle back to soil.”
The theme for 2025 NATSICD is Little Footsteps, Big Future, which recognises the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the influence of culture, community, and connection to Country.
Through the annual event, the Healesville Library aims to close the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations communities.
Ms Herring said the library crew feel that closing the gap is incredibly important.
“Speaking personally, I feel we have such a great opportunity to play our part in helping to close the gap through supporting educational opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members,” she said.
“We continue to collaborate with local Indigenous community groups and organisations, we have a wonderful collection of literature that features First Nations artists, and we are always working to create safe and inclusive spaces.
“Your Library Ltd, as a wider organisation, is developing a partnership with The Wurundjeri Corporation to develop some exciting programs and projects for the whole community. Our libraries are committed to using a reconciliation model for events and activities.”
The event organiser thanked all the people who came together to celebrate the special event.
“I’m just so happy to see so many families from a variety of backgrounds coming along and celebrating together,” Ms Herring said.
“I also want to thank everyone who helped to make the day come together, including support from Yarra Ranges Council, who brought copies of the locally written and illustrated The Way Bunjil Flies, by Aunty Dot Peters, for families to take home.
“It’s been a beautiful day, and we can’t wait for next year.”
