Each year, over a hundred thousand people and hundreds of organisations celebrate National Families Week – Australia’s annual celebration of families.
The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society.
National Families Week is a time to celebrate with your family, make contact with your extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family life.
Let’s take the time to reflect on the critical role that families play in teaching, supporting and nurturing children especially as they grow.
Families Australia’s former CEO and National Families Week Champion, Dr Brian Babington, has written about the Week below.
Families are the most important building block of communities, societies and nations. I believe strongly that we need to think more about the value of families and do more to support our and others’ families, whatever form they take. What does your family mean to you? What do you give to and get from your family? At times family life can undoubtedly be challenging, but families are the best places to share and to be understood. National Families Week is a great opportunity to pause and take stock of how we can all work for greater family wellbeing.
Dr Brian Babington, 2019
National Families Week coincides with the United Nations International Day of Families on 15 May. This day is observed by the United Nations to mark the importance that the international community places on families as the most fundamental units of society, as well as to show concern about their situation in many parts of the world.
All Australians, including community organisations, schools, councils, companies and individuals are invited to participate in National Families Week each year.
The enduring theme is ‘Stronger Families, Stronger Communities’.
This theme continues to highlight the important role families play as the central building block of our communities and deliver the message that community wellbeing is enhanced by family wellbeing.
Annually, over 130,000 people are register to attend events around Australia from Thursday Island to southern Tasmania.
National Families Week is supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.