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Overview
There are many days of celebration and remembrance related to relationships and sexuality. Here are some ways that these days can be incorporated into your school culture and curriculum:
- Add to your school calendar and newsletters with links to relevant information and support sites.
- Display on your classroom board with some information about the importance of the day.
- A 5 minute share with the class, the staff meeting, the assembly, etc.
- A guest speaker on the topic (See Background teacher notes: Guest speakers for more information).
- A themed morning tea or shared lunch with students, staff, P&C, parents.
- Professional development for staff on a related topic (See Professional Development for upcoming events and Agencies for possible presenters).
- Have students or staff share their expertise and/or knowledge on the topic area.
- Read a book to the class on the topic area.
- Decorate an area of your classroom, staff room, school or office.
- Display books on the topic area.
- Watch short videos on the topic area (See Resource section and filter by topic and video for ideas).
- Listen to music on the topic area.
- Fundraise for the area of support (e.g. ribbons, badges, lanyards and other merchandise that has been created to help fundraise for the day).
- Host a special event (e.g. a colour run, a special assembly, an excursion/incursion, dress-up day, dance).
- Have students and staff share reasons why the day is important to them or why they think the day is important.
- Research the history of the day.
Days to commemorate
| Date | Occasion | What the occasion celebrates and/or commemorates | Links to sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 February | Valentine's Day | Celebrating love, affection and romance | kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/valentines-day
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| 14 February | National Condom Day | Promoting condom use and safer sex practices | shq.org.au/national-condom-day-2021/
|
| 14 February (week of) | Sexual Health Week | Celebrating and promoting sexual health in its entirety | waaids.com/item/1072-wa-sexual-health-week.html
|
| 20 March | National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence | Promotes ways to prevent bullying and violence in schools and communities | bullyingnoway.gov.au/preventing-bullying/national-day-of-action-against-bullying-and-violence
|
| 21 March | Harmony Day (and week) | Celebrates cultural diversity |
|
| 31 March | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising trans and gender diverse experiences and achievements |
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| 15 May | International Day of Families | Promotes awareness of issues relating to families with different themes each year | www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families
|
| 17 May | International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) | Celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination |
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| 26 May | National Sorry Day | Acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forcibly removed from their families |
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| 27 May - 3 June | National Reconciliation Week | Celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians | www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/
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| First Sunday of July (week) | National Aboriginals and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week | Celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
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| 28 July | World Hepatitis Day | Aims to mobilise action on the elimination of viral hepatitis through a coordinated response | |
| 30 July | International Day of Friendship | Promotes friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals to inspire peace | www.un.org/en/observances/friendship-day
|
| 27 August | Wear It Purple Day | Fosters supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow (LGBTI+) young people |
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| 31 August | International Overdose Awareness Day | Aims to end overdose, remember those who have died |
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| September | Sexual Health Month | Aims to expand conversations and resources around sexual health | nationaltoday.com/sexual-health-month
|
| 4 September | World Sexual Health Day | Raising awareness of sexual health and sexual rights | worldsexualhealth.net/world-sexual-health-day/
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| First Monday in September (week) | Women's Health Week | Dedicated to all women across Australia to make good health a priority |
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| 10 September | R U OK? Day | Raising awareness of mental health and preventing suicide | www.ruok.org.au/join-r-u-ok-day
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| November | WA PrideFest | Celebration of LGBTQI+ community - history, presence and future |
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| 20 November | Transgender Day of Remembrance | Honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of transphobic violence |
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| 1 December | World AIDS Day | Raises awareness about issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, shows support for people living with HIV and commemorates people who have lost their lives |
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| 3 December | International Day for People Living with Disability | Aims to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions |
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