NAIDOC week (2-9th July) is a time for Tweddle staff, families and the community to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. The theme for 2017 is ‘Our Languages Matter’.
Tweddle has the privilege to work alongside Aboriginal health workers, mums, dads, babies and toddlers as part of our early parenting support programs.
We are currently part of a consortium of key agencies in the west working on a project called Footprints for Success – Aboriginal Kids and Families in the West in the LGAs of Wyndham, Brimbank and Maribyrnong.
This project aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to improve the health and wellbeing of children, including through trust and capacity building, and strengthening their say and authority in the health and early years’ service environments.
To ensure our services reflect and respect Aboriginal parenting culture, heritage, learning practices and awareness of intergenerational trauma, Tweddle is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) or Reflect RAP.
Tweddle’s ‘Reflect’ RAP will give staff and management the time and opportunity to raise awareness and support within the organisation and well as building a commitment to cultural protocols considering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment.
Tweddle’s goal is to be part of the national effort to acknowledge and address past and present injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to provide services that reflect, respect and embrace the strength, culture and diversity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Following on from Tweddle’s ‘Close The Gap’ activities, we look forward to participating in NAIDOC Week activities. This will include art sessions with toddlers at Tweddle using Aboriginal colouring in pages and placing NAIDOC ‘ Our Languages Matter’ posters around Tweddle.
We will be attending the Maribyrnong Flag Raising Ceremony and afternoon tea at the Footscray City Council on Monday 3rd July from 10.30 – 11.30 where the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will be officially raised by community Elders in the presence of council staff and local community members.
Western VACCA are celebrating Children’s Day on Tuesday 4th July from 1pm – 4pm at Kelly park in Werribee. The free event includes face painting, traditional dancing, a jumping castle and more.
We welcome Tweddle staff and members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to be involved in the development of Tweddle’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Contact Sue Wilson if you would like to contribute.
