Key messages
- There are many days of celebration and remembrance related to relationships and sexuality.
- A list of ways to incorporate these into your school culture and curriculum are provided.
- A calendar of special days and links are provided.
Days of celebration and remembrance
There are many days of celebration and remembrance related to relationships and sexuality.
Ways to incorporate these days into your school
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.
- A themed morning tea or shared lunch with students, staff, P&C, parents.
- Professional development for staff on a related topic.
- 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. (See Resource section and filter by topic and music for ideas).
- 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 |
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14 February | Valentine's Day | Celebrating love, affection and romance | Valentine's Day (nationalgeographic.com)
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14 February | National Condom Day | Promoting condom use and safer sex practices | National Condom Day 2024 - Sexual Health Quarters (shq.org.au)
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14 February (week of) | Sexual Health Week | Celebrating and promoting sexual health in its entirety | Sexual Health Week 2024 - WAAC
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20 March | National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence | Promotes ways to prevent bullying and violence in schools and communities | Bullying No Way: National week of action
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21 March | Harmony Day (and week) | Celebrates cultural diversity | Harmony week - Everyone belongs
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31 March | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising trans and gender diverse experiences and achievements | Trans Day of Visibility | #TDOV
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15 May | International Day of Families | Promotes awareness of issues relating to families with different themes each year | International Day of Families | United Nations |
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 | Home - Reconciliation Australia
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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 | Home - Reconciliation Australia
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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 | International Day of Friendship | United Nations
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27 August | Wear It Purple Day | Fosters supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow (LGBTI+) young people | WEAR IT PURPLE |
31 August | International Overdose Awareness Day | Aims to end overdose, remember those who have died | International Overdose Awareness Day: 31 August (overdoseday.com) |
September | Sexual Health Month | Aims to expand conversations and resources around sexual health | SEXUAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH (nationaltoday.com) |
4 September | World Sexual Health Day | Raising awareness of sexual health and sexual rights | World Sexual Health Day | World Association for Sexual Health (WAS)
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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 | Women's Health Week | Jean Hailes
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10 September | R U OK? Day | Raising awareness of mental health and preventing suicide |
Plan your R U OK?Day activities | R U OK?
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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 | Home - TransFolk of WA |
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 | WAAC: Healthy, Included, Connected | WAAC
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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 | International Day of People with Disability (idpwd.com.au)
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