NAIDOC Week is back (6-13 July), and if you've ever wondered what your little one is actually up to when they come home talking about Acknowledgements of Country or a new song they've learned, here's the lowdown.
This year's theme is “50 Years of Deadly,” celebrating five decades of strength and resilience from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It's a big one, and our educators are right across it, no need to brief yourself on the history books before pick-up, we've got you covered here.
Where It All Comes From
At Aussie Kindies, First Nations learning isn't just a NAIDOC Week thing, it's baked into our Lifelong Learning Curriculum year-round, thanks to our long-running partnership with Wandana Aboriginal Education. They give our educators the resources and training to teach this stuff properly, so kids get the real deal, not a watered-down version.
That might mean a story shared at mat time, a song learned together, or a simple chat about why we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land. It's not about ticking a box once a year, it's woven into the everyday, so kids grow up with it as a normal, everyday part of life, not a once-off lesson.
A Pretty Special Moment for the Network
Earlier this month, some of the Affinity Education crew caught up with Wandana Aboriginal Education and were gifted an original Whale Song called “Garuuja,” written by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Tim Gray. Uncle Tim explained it best: “Whale songs like ‘Garuuja’ represent kinship, spirituality and are linked to ancient ‘Songlines,’ which are dreaming paths that navigate the coastline. These songs and stories are used to ‘sing up’ whales along the coast to ensure safe travel for Mothers and calves, map migratory routes and connect coastal communities.”
Centres around the country will get to share the song with kids soon. Affinity Education CEO Glen Hurley put it simply: reconciliation “is not a single moment in time - it's an ongoing learning journey.”
Read more: NAIDOC Week 2026: Celebrating Culture, Connection and 50 Years of Deadly
What You Can Do at Home
Ask your kiddo what they learned this week, no drama, just a quick chat about a story, song or word they picked up. Little conversations like these go a long way.
You might also spot a new drawing on the fridge, hear a snippet of a song, or get asked a question you weren't quite expecting. That's all part of it - kids soak this stuff up in their own way, and there's no need to have all the answers yourself. That's what our educators are there for.
Why It's Worth Knowing About
If your little one's already with us, this is just one example of what goes on behind the scenes every day, not just during NAIDOC Week. Our partnership with Wandana means the learning is genuine, not a token gesture, and that matters to us.
And if you're on the hunt for a centre and this kind of thing matters to you too (it should!), it's worth asking any centre you're looking at how they handle this stuff day-to-day, not just once a year. We reckon it's one of the things that sets Aussie Kindies apart.
Want the full story on the NAIDOC Week celebrations across Affinity, Whale Song and all? Check it out here.
Keen to see what else your kid could be learning? Find your nearest Aussie Kindies centre and come in for a look around.