The following lists cultural and special events that are taking place from January - December 2023. This should help you to plan and organise upcoming events and celebrations for 2023.
January
- 1st
New Year’s Public Holiday Day - 1st-31st
Walk Your Dog Month - 1st-31st
Veganuary - 1st-7th
Gantan Sai (New Years)- Shinto - 2nd
National Science Fiction Day - 4th
World Braille Day
National Spaghetti Day - 6th
Epiphany-Christian - 7th
Orthodox Christmas Day - 10th
World Hindi Day - 11th
Girl Hug Boy Day - 12th
Earth Chakra Day - 14th
Orthodox New Year
Makar Sankranti (Hindu)
International Kite Day - 15th
World Religion Day - 17th
Kid Inventor’s Day - 18th
Winnie the Pooh Day - 20th
Penguin Awareness Day - 21st
Squirrel Appreciation Day
National Hug Day - 22nd
Lunar New Year (Rabbit) - 26th
Australia /Survival/Invasion Day - 27th
Chocolate Cake Day - 29th
Puzzle Day
February 2023
- 1st-28th
Feel Good February - 2nd
World Wetlands Day - 5th
Lantern Festival - 6th
Waitangi Day (NZ) - 8th
Safer Internet Day - 9th
World Pizza Day - 11th
International Day of Women and Girls in Science - 12th
International Darwin Day - 13th
Anniversary of Apology
World Radio Day - 14
Valentine’s Day
International Book Giving Day - 17th
Random Acts of Kindness Day - 21st
International Mother Language Day
Pancake Tuesday-Shrove Tuesday - 22nd
Ash Wednesday - 26th
Tell a Fairy Tale Day
March
- 1st-31st
Australian Women’s History Month - 1st-31st
Australian Adopt a Pet Month - 1st-7th
Hearing Awareness Week - 1st- 31st
Epilepsy Awareness Month - 1st
World Compliment Day - 2nd
Dr Seuss Day - 3rd
UN International Women’s Day
World Wildlife Day - 5th
Clean Up Australia Day - 6th
Magha Puja Day (Buddhism) - 8th
Holi (India) - 9th
Read to Me Hour - 13th
Labour Public Holiday Day, Tasmania
Canberra Day - 16th
National Close the Gap Day - 17th
St Patrick’s Day - 18th
Global Recycling Day - 19th
International Read to Me Day - 20th
International Day of Happiness
Very Hungry Caterpillar Day - 21st
World Poetry Day
World Down Syndrome Day
International Day of Forests - 20th-26th
National Playgroup Week
Harmony Week - 22nd
World Water Day View our - 23rd
World Meteorological Day
Ride2School Day - 25th
Earth Hour - 26th
Epilepsy Awareness Day (Purple Day) - 27th
Neighbour Day
April
- 2nd
World Autism Day
International Children’s Book Day - 3rd-15th
Nature Play Week - 5th-13th
Passover - 6th
Tartan Day - 7th
Good Friday Public Holiday Day - 9th
Easter Sunday - 10th
Easter Monday Public Holiday Day - 16th
Orthodox Easter - 18th
World Heritage Day - 20th
Ramadan ends - 21st
World Creativity & Innovation Day - 22nd
Earth Day
Ramadan begins - 23rd
World Book and Copyright Day - 25th
ANZAC Day - 29th
International Dance Day - 30th
International Jazz Day
May
- 1st-7th
Family Day Care Week - 2nd
World Asthma Day - 4th
Star Wars Day
International Firefighters Day - 7th-13th
International Compost Awareness Week - 8th
Hana Matsuri (Buddhism) - 12th
International Nurses Day - 14th
Mother’s Day - 14th-21st
Road Safety Week - 15th-21st
National Families Week - 15th
International Day of Families - 16th
International Day of the Boychild - 20th
World Bee Day-View our Mini Beast Pack here - 21st-22nd
Eid al-Fitr-View our free pack here - 21st
International Tea Day - 23rd
World Turtle Day-View our Exploring the Ocean Pack here - 25th
Austalia’s Biggest Morning Tea- Cool Resources here - 24th
National Simultaneous Storytime
National Sorry Day-View our FREE Sorry Day pack here - 27th-3rd
Reconciliation Week
June
- 1st-30th
Pride Month - 1st
Global Day of Parents - 3rd
Mabo Day
Butterfly Education and Awareness Day (BEAD) - 5th
World Environment Day - 7th
Western Australia Day Public Holiday Day - 8th
World Oceans Day
National Buddy Day - 15th
Global Wind Day
National Vegemite Day - 18th
National Sushi Day
International Picnic Day - 21st
International Day of Yoga - 22nd
Winter Solstice - 27th
International Sunglasses Day - 29th
Eid al-Adha
July
- 1st-31st
Plastic Free July - 1st
International Reggae Day - 2nd-9th
NAIDOC Week- Theme- "For our Elders" - 3rd
International Plastic Bag Free Day - 7th
World Chocolate Day - 10th
Teddybears Picnic - 16th
World Snake Day - 18th
Nelson Mandela Day - 21st
International Lamington Day
Pyjama Day - 26th
OSHC (OOSH) Educators Day - 30th
World Friendship Day
National Stepfamily Awareness Day - 31st
World Ranger Day
August
- 1st-7th
World Breastfeeding Week - 1st-31st
Happiness Happens Month - 1st-31st
Platypus Month - 4th
National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
Jeans for Genes Day - 6th
National Tree Day - 7th
Picnic Day, Public Holiday Day, NT - 7th-13th
Dental Health Week - 9th
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - 12th
International Youth Day
World Elephant Day - 12th-20th
National Science Week - 14th
World Lizard Day - 16th -22nd
Keep Australia Beautiful Week - 19th
International Orangutan Day
World Humanitarian Day
National Potato Day - 19th-25th
Book Week - 26th
Daffodil Day
September
- 1st-30th
Footy Colours Day - 1st-30th
Foster Care Month - 1st-30th
Biodiversity Month - 1st-30th
Save the Koala Month - 1st-30th
International Children’s Cancer Awareness Month - 1st
Indigenous Literacy Day
National Wattle Day - 3rd
Father’s Day - 4th-10th
National Child Protection Week
National Superhero Week - 7th
Early Childhood Educators’ Day
Threatened Species Day
International Literacy Day - 9th
Bravehearts Day - 10th
National Bilby Day - 14th
RUOK Day - 15th-17th
Rosh Hashanah - 16th
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer - 19th
Talk Like a Pirate Day - National Organic Week
- 21st
World Gratitude Day
International Day of Peace - 22nd
World Rhino Day - 23rd
International Day Of Sign Languages - 30th
Save the Koala Day
October
- 1st-31st
Dyslexia Awareness Month - 1st
International Coffee Day
World Vegetarian Day - 2nd-6th
Australian Wildlife Week - 2nd
Word Farm Animal Day
Word Habitat Day - 4th-10th
World Space Week - 4th
International Taco Day - 5th
World Teachers Day - 6th
World Smile Day - 7th
World Cotton Day - 8th-15th
Mental Health Week - 9th
World Post Day - 10th
World Mental Health Day
National Hat Day - 12th
World Sight Day - 13th
World Egg Day - 15th
National Mushroom Day
Global Handwashing Day - 15th-23rd
Navaratri (India) - 16th
World Bread Day - 16th-22nd
National Nutrition Week - 16th-20th
National Bird Week
Aussie Backyard Bird Count
National Water Week
Early Learning Matters Week - 20th-27th
National Unity Week - 21st
Loud Shirt Day - 22nd-30th
National Children’s Week - 23rd
Pink Ribbon Day - 24th
World Kangaroo Day - 25th
Children’s Day
World Pasta Day - 27th
Day for Daniel
Kids Safe Day - 28th
National Bandanna Day - 29th
National Grandparents’ Day - 31st
Halloween
November
- 1st-30th
Movember (Men’s Health Month) - 1st-20th
National Adoption Awareness Month - 1st
World Vegan Day - 3rd
Outdoor Classroom Day(TBC) - 4th-10th
Recycling Week - 7rh
Melbourne Cup Day - 11th
Remembrance Day - 11th-18th
Food Safety Week - 12th
Diwali (India) - 14th
World Diabetes Day - 19th
International Men’s Day
World Toilet Day - 19-27th
Social Inclusion Week - 20th
Universal Children’s Day - 24th
National Fairy Bread Day - 25th
White Ribbon Day
December
- 3rd
International Day of persons with disabilities - 4th
International Cookie Day - 5th
Volunteer Day - 10th
International Animal Rights Day
Human Rights Day - 11th
International Mountain Day
International Migrants Day - 24th
Christmas Eve - 25th
Christmas Day - 26th
Boxing Day - 31st
New Year’s Eve
Please make sure to like/follow our Aussie Childcare Network Facebook page in order to receive events and celebration activity ideas, resources and documentation templates for child portfolios and more.
Note: This is to be used as a general guideline only. These dates may be subject to change.
