Every year, NAIDOC Week gives us a chance to pause and ask: how do we help our children grow up understanding and respecting the world's oldest continuing cultures? At Milestones, it's a question we come back to often, not just during NAIDOC Week, but as part of how we approach learning every day.
This year's NAIDOC Week (6-13 July) theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” celebrates the strength, resilience and activism of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across five decades. It's a theme that resonates across our centres, where daily
Acknowledgements of Country, stories, songs and shared experiences are already woven into how children come to know and respect the Traditional Owners of the land on which they learn and play.
Learning Through Our Partnership with Wandana
Milestones' approach to First Nations education is grounded in our long-standing partnership with Wandana Aboriginal Education, integrated into our Lifelong Learning Curriculum. Wandana provides culturally authentic resources - education kits, online programs, educator professional development and rich Aboriginal experiences - helping our teams create environments where children engage with Country, culture and language in genuine, age-appropriate ways.
This partnership isn't a once-a-year initiative. It's built into how educators plan reflections, activities and everyday conversations with children, all year round.
A Milestone Moment for Our Network
Earlier this month, members of the Affinity Education executive team joined Wandana Aboriginal Education for a special NAIDOC Week gathering, where they were gifted an original Whale Song - “Garuuja” - created by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Tim Gray. As Uncle Tim explained: “Whale songs like ‘Garuuja’ represent kinship, spirituality and are linked to ancient ‘Songlines,’ which are dreaming paths that navigate the coastline. These songs and stories are used to ‘sing up’ whales along the coast to ensure safe travel for Mothers and calves, map migratory routes and connect coastal communities.”
The song will soon be shared with centres across Australia, giving children the chance to experience it as part of their everyday learning. Affinity Education CEO Glen Hurley reflected that reconciliation “is not a single moment in time - it's an ongoing learning journey.”
Read more: NAIDOC Week 2026: Celebrating Culture, Connection and 50 Years of Deadly
Bringing It Into the Classroom
For families, NAIDOC Week is a lovely opportunity to talk with your child about what they're learning - ask them about an Acknowledgement of Country, a story their educator shared, or a song they've sung. These small conversations help build the same respect and connection that our educators nurture every day.
Throughout the week, you might notice your child coming home with a new word, a story about the Dreaming, or a craft activity inspired by First Nations art. These experiences are gentle, age-appropriate introductions designed to spark curiosity and lay the groundwork for a lifelong sense of respect, not one-off lessons, but building blocks that grow alongside your child.
What This Means for Your Family
If your child is already part of the Milestones family, weeks like this are a window into the values we bring to every day - warmth, inclusion, and a genuine sense of belonging for every child who walks through our doors. It's part of why families choose to stay with us as their children grow.
And if you're currently looking for a centre for your little one, this is exactly the kind of thing worth asking about on a centre tour: how educators build authentic relationships with community partners, and how that shows up in the everyday experiences your child will have. We know choosing a centre is about more than routines, it's about trusting the people who will help shape who your child becomes.
You can read more about the full NAIDOC Week celebration across the Affinity Education network, including the gifting of the Whale Song, here.
Want to see how your child could experience culture, community and connection every day? Find your nearest Milestones centre and book a tour.