Music is a universal language—and in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, it’s also a powerful vessel for storytelling, ceremony, and connection. Introducing Aboriginal music into early learning environments not only enriches children’s understanding of Australia’s First Nations peoples but also fosters respect, curiosity, and cultural awareness from a young age.

In a heartwarming episode of Playschool titled “Island Life,” features Uncle Charles Passi, a proud Torres Strait Islander, joins the show and introduces viewers to the sit-down dance “Taba Naba,” a traditional Torres Strait Islander song that celebrates island life, the sea, and community connection. This is a great opportunity for educators to learn to dance to teach children.

ABC Kids has created a new lullaby to support children's transition to quiet time and bedtime. This beautiful track was written and performed by Christine Anu. Piki Lullaby includes the Kalaw Kawaw Ya/Kala Lagaw Ya language from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait).  Piki Lullaby was created on the lands of the Darumbal and Gadigal people. 

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Songs Posters for children show the lyrics of 3 popular ATSI songs for children. These can be displayed in the learning environment.

Inanay - A Torres Strait Islander song about a goanna in Yorta Yorta, a language of one of Torres Strait Islander tribes in Victoria. Taba Naba- This song is about going to the reef and is accompanied by a sit-down dance where the dancers perform traditional movements corresponding to the lyrics. Pitjantjatjara - 123 - Learn to count to 3 in Pitjantjatjara with this simple song. A dialect of the Western Desert Language, the largest language group of Aboriginal Australia.

Through engaging with translations of a song into a number of different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, children will develop a shared appreciation of, and pride in, the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

ABC KIDS listen commissioned six Indigenous language tracks for their Lullabies program.

Eh oo ah
Pitjantjatjara Pitjantjatjara
Eh Oo Ah
Pitjantjatjara Pitjantjatjara
Kutju, Kutjata, Munkurpa
One, Two, Three
One, Two, Three!

Hints and Tips: 

• Numbers -  Kutju (koo-joo) One (1) - Kutjara ( koo-djah-rah) Two (2) - Munkurpa (man-koor-pah) Three (3)
• Anangu mainly speak Pitjantjatjara and Yunkunytjatjara. These are dialects of the Western Desert Language, the largest language group of Aboriginal Australia. The group includes 4000 speakers and stretched northwest to Balgo, west to Port Headland, south to Kalgoorlie, Yalata, Oodnadatta and northeast of Alice Springs. 

Taba naba naba norem
Tugi penai siri
Dinghy e naba we
Miko keimi
Sere re naba we
Taba naba naba norem
Style
Taba naba naba norem
Tugi penai siri
Dinghy e naba we
Miko keimi
Sere re naba we
Taba naba naba norem
Style

Taba naba naba norem
Tugi penai siri
Dinghy e naba we
Miko keimi
Sere re naba we
Taba naba naba norem
Style

Hints and Tips: 

• Translation:
  
  Come on let's go to the reef
  Get into the dinghy when the morning tide is low
  Let us row to the edge of the reef
  Come on let's go to the reef.

• Taba Naba is a children's song originating in the Torres Strait Islands just north of the continent of Australia. This song is usually accompanied by a sit-down dance where the dancers perform traditional movements corresponding to the lyrics.

Inanay gupu wanna
Inanay gupu wanna

Ay ay ay oola
Oola oola oola ay
Yippee yay yipee yay

Goo wana goo wana
Goo wana goo wana
Goo wah - Choo!

Hints and Tips: 

• This is a song in Yorta Yorta, the language of one of the Aboriginal Communities. 
• It cannot be translated word for word, however, research shows it a song about a goanna, the 'choo' is shooing the goanna away. The word 'goanna' is the English name for the animal, it was their closest approximation of the name Aboriginals used for the animal.
• Easy ATSI children can learn during group time. 
• Originates from Torres Strait Islanders.