Previous National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day Themes – 1988 to 2001

Since 1988 NAICD has focussed on themes ranging from child poverty, the forced removal of children from families, access to education, cultural pride and inheritance, the importance of elders in the lives of children and investing in a better future for children.

In 1991 NAICD focussed on the issue of the Stolen Generations and demanded a national inquiry into the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. Through NAICD SNAICC became the first national organisation to call for such an inquiry and campaigned tirelessly until the Federal Government announced in 1995 that an inquiry would be held.

The final report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) inquiry, Bringing Them Home, placed the issue of the Stolen Generations at the centre of the reconciliation process. Ten years after SNAICC first called for the inquiry on NAICD 1991 the issue of the Stolen Generations has gone from being known by very few Australians to being known by literally all Australians.

Not satisfied that the issues had merely been raised on NAICD in 1997 SNAICC demanded a full and proper response to the Bringing Them Home report. This included reparation for those directly affected and a complete overhaul of the current child protection systems which continue to remove Indigenous children at over 6 times the rate of other Australian children.

" We are watching and learning from you -
make us proud of all you do "

This was the theme for 2001 and it challenges individuals, organisations and governments to remember that children learn from observing their behaviour. Too often children witness behaviour which carries messages of violence, neglect and indifference instead of love, respect, reconciliation, support and encouragement.

SNAICC challenges all organisations and individuals to think about the example they set for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Children who can take pride in the people around them will grow up to respect their elders, value their cultural heritage and strengthen their communities.

The theme for National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NAICD), August 4th, recognised that 2002 was the 15th anniversary of NAICD and the 20th anniversary of SNAICC. The 2002 poster was distributed to over 1,200 Indigenous community organisation and featured all of the previous years posters.

See also Previous NAICD themes 2002 onwards

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