The following lists cultural, special and community events that are taking place in May 2023. This should help you to plan and organise upcoming events and celebrations for May 2023.
01st May
- Mindful in May - Mindful in May brings the benefits of meditation together with an opportunity to help bring clean water to those living in the developing world. Your donation and fundraising will be used by Charity Water in its mission to solve the water crisis. When you register and donate, you'll receive a one-month meditation program.
- Miracle Month of May - A time to highlight the work of Miracle Babies supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them. As well as the stories of Australia’s littlest miracles.
- Beltane - One of the most celebrated pagan events each year. It falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The holiday has its origins in ancient Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, but is widely practised across the modern world.
- RSPCA Million Paws Walk - The RSPCA Million Paws Walk is a huge fundraising day for your four-legged friends when thousands of dollars are raised in support of the RSPCA. On the day of the event, thousands of people come together all over Victoria with their dogs to take a walk with dog lovers everywhere!
- Shine a Light on Road Safety - Victorian drivers are being urged to turn on their headlights as a simple, free and highly visible gesture, to remember those impacted by road trauma and show their commitment to road safety.
01st - 07th May
- National Family Day Care Week - The purpose of National Family Day Care Week is to recognise and promote the important role family day care educators and services play in the development and well-being of more than 115,000 children across Australia. Get involved today by checking out their website as well as participating in these great lessons.
04th May
- World Asthma Day - Initiated by the Global Initiative for Asthma in 1998, the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) embraces WAD and marks the occasion to highlight the need for ongoing care and vigilance in managing asthma.
- International Star Wars Day - Is called Star Wars Day because of the popularity of a common pun spoken on this day. Since the phrase "May the Force be with you" is a famous quote often spoken in Star Wars films, fans commonly say "May the fourth be with you" on this day. This Day celebrates Star Wars which is a media franchise created by George Lucas.
- International Firefighters Day - A way to say thank you to the world’s firefighters for all that they do to keep our communities safe.
7th May
- International Tell Your Crush Day- Was hatched out of a simple and honest desire to see more people be open and honest about the world around them.
8th May
- World Red Cross Day - Celebrated on the day the Red Cross founder, Henry Dunant (1828-1910), was born World Red Cross Day celebrates the important work done by the staff and volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements.
- International Thalassaemia Day is an inherited blood disorder in which inadequate or abnormal haemoglobin is produced. Patients with this condition suffer from anaemia amongst other complications due to inadequate red blood cells. International Thalassaemia Day is celebrated every year to commemorate patients who are no longer with us as well as raise awareness of the condition to improve patient care and research.
- World Migratory Bird Day - Was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend of each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and birdwatching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to help raise awareness around a specific theme.
10th May
- World Lupus Day - Lupus is an autoimmune disease that may cause abnormalities in the function and structure of such vital organs as kidneys, brain, lungs etc. World Lupus Day raises awareness about this disease.
12th May
- International Nurses Day - Every year International Nurses Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. It is a day to celebrate the role nurses play in the care of their communities.
- Girl Guides Australia National Biscuit Day - For more than 60 years Girl Guides around Australia have proudly sold Girl Guide Biscuits in our communities to our families, friends, supporters and businesses. They are certainly an icon of Girl Guiding and a valuable symbol of our connection with the broader community.
14th May
- Mother's Day - is the annual celebration of mothers and the hard work they do.
14th to 20th May
- Food Allergy Awareness Week - Provides a unique opportunity to help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. Each of us works in our own way to raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.
15th May
- International Day of Families - The International Day of Families is an opportunity to raise awareness of issues relating to families in the international community.
15th - 21st May
- National Families Week - A time to celebrate with your immediate 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 time.
- UN Global Road Safety Week - Particularly targeted at young drivers, Road Safety Week aims to increase awareness of the dangers present on the roads.
- National Volunteer Week (NVW) - is Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteers. From Monday to Sunday, NVW will celebrate the significant contribution of Australia's almost six million volunteers. Each year these volunteers dedicate over 600 million hours to helping others.
15th - 22nd May
- National Road Safety Week - This week is a reminder of the importance of safety for all our road users - because everyone has the right to get home safely.
19th May
- National Walk Safely To School Day - Walk Safely to School Day is an annual, national event that encourages all primary school students to walk safely, and commute actively, to school. Now in its fourteenth year, this community event promotes better attitudes to road safety, health, public transport and the environment. Parents and carers are encouraged to walk their children to school on the day.
20th May
- World Bee Day - World Bee Day's purpose is to spread awareness of the significance of bees and other pollinators for our survival. It is an excellent opportunity to put bees at the centre of the national conversation for a day and encourage actions that create more bee-friendly landscapes. Find more resources here.
23rd May
- World Turtle Day - For more than 100 million years, marine turtles have covered vast distances across the world's oceans, and have been an integral part of tropical coastal ecosystems. Over the past 200 years, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners.
- Starlight Day - Since being formed as an Australian children's charity in 1988, the Starlight Children's Foundation has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, throughout Australia.
24th May
- National Simultaneous Storytime - is an annual event that aims to engage children of all ages to enjoy books by creating a sense of excitement around reading.
25th May
- Australia's Biggest Morning Tea - May is Australia's biggest Morning Tea month. Thursday 23rd May is the official day but you can host an event anytime throughout May or June. It's simple, fun and best of all for a great cause! All you need to do is set a date, brainstorm some morning tea ideas, invite your guests and raise money to help support the fight against cancer.
26 May
- National Sorry Day - A continuing effort to achieve appropriate education, reconciliation and recognition for the Aboriginal stolen generation.
27 May
- 65 Roses Day - On 65 Roses Day we paint Western Australia with beautiful fresh roses to raise vital funds and awareness for people living with CF, but we need your help to do it! You can support this 65 Roses Day by selling roses in your workplace or school, joining our volunteer team or sending a digital rose to a loved one.
27 May - 03 June
- National Reconciliation Week - National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
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.
Note: This is to be used as a general guideline only. These dates may be subject to change.
