The following resources may be useful to carers of Aboriginal children and young people.

To learn more about how the department works with Aboriginal children and young people and ensures cultural safety, visit the Aboriginal children and young people webpage.

Information and resources for carers

The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) Supporting Carers to Care for our Children website is designed to support and empower carers in their day-to-day caring role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It includes resources about self-care for carers, the rights of the child, connecting to culture and social and emotional wellbeing.

Parenting SA supports parents and caregivers through the provision of quality information, and has published parent easy guides and links to useful information and services for Aboriginal families.

Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA published a resource guide ‘Connecting to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture’ to assist carers to connect the children and young people in their care to their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Aboriginal Family Support Services prepared a Cultural Activities Resource Booklet to assist carers in connecting the children and young people in their care with culture.

The Safety for Our Little Fellas resources have been developed by Kidsafe SA with the Aboriginal Resource & Management Support Unit in Resource SA and Burns SA to reduce the unfortunately high level of death and serious injury to children as a result of unintentional and very often preventable injury.

The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that provides a platform to amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families. It offers a wide range of resources on trauma and healing for Stolen Generations survivors, their descendants, families and communities and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service (SA Health) provides a free comprehensive program of culturally-sensitive services across Adelaide’s northern and central regions. ‘Watto Purrunna’ is a Kaurna term meaning ‘the branch of life’.

DeadlyKidsSA (SA Health) aims to support Aboriginal children to be happy, healthy and strong by providing a number of different activities to promote the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and their families across South Australia. Its activities include supporting fun and healthy cultural events such as the annual Strong Aboriginal Children’s Health Expo and the provision of 'Get Set, Go!' backpacks.

For children and young people

CREATE Foundation is the national body for children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. CREATE is committed to partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and supporting them to become the lead decision-makers for their future.

First Languages Australia in partnership with local language centres across Australia have developed an interactive map to display and promote the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Little Yarns is a co-listening podcast series for pre-schoolers. Ideal for families listening together at home or as a listening resource in early learning centres, Little Yarns explores the diverse languages, stories and Countries of Indigenous Australia.

Early Words Aboriginal Resources were developed in partnership with the Western Sydney Aboriginal community. They cover nine stages from pregnancy to 5 years. Families can look at easy activities that will help bub get ready to read write and yarn well from birth to 5 years. The resources support the mob to use the Top 5 Tips for the First 5 Years.

Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sports games resources from the Australian Sports Commission, aimed at school children from Kindergarten to Year 12. The resources include diagrams, background to each game, game rules, variations of the games, and teaching points.

Annual events

Carers of children and young people are encouraged to get involved in events that celebrate Aboriginal cultures, and recognise the achievements of Aboriginal people. DCP will promote local events that may be of interest to carers throughout the year.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Aboriginal communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day has been celebrated on the 4th of August for more than 30 years. It’s a special time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to celebrate children, and for all Australians to learn about more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Page last updated: 17 January 2022