The following list of cultural and special events that are taking place in October 2023. This should help you to plan and organise for upcoming events and celebrations for October 2023.
1 October
- World Vegetarian Day - is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month. Make a difference this October by informing others about the benefits of vegetarianism.
- International Day of Older Persons - a celebration of the older people in all societies, and a reminder to continue developing a society for all ages.
- Be Kind To Animals Week - a nationwide initiative to encourage and inspire people of all ages to be kind to our furry, feathered and finned friends.
- Nude Food Month - a nationwide initiative developed to encourage kids and parents to eat well and live well, and eliminate all unnecessary packaging and wrapping.
- Mental Health Month - a national mental health promotion campaign held throughout October each year. The timing of the campaign centres on World Mental Health Day, which is marked each year on October 10.
- Buy Nothing New Month - is the global movement for collective, conscientious consumption. It's about thinking about where our stuff comes from (finite resources) where it goes when we're done (often landfill) and what are the fantastic alternatives out there to extend the life of our 'stuff'.
- Dogtober - a way to get involved with Assistance Dogs, have some fun and help train another 25 super pups to help people with physical disabilities.
- Walktober - Australia's walking month! It's the ideal time to celebrate walking. October is that time of year when you feel a 'spring' in your step; the weather is warming up and it's a great time to get outside. Join the Walktober Challenge and take steps to make sure that this generation of kids is active and healthy.
- National Safe Work Month - is a time to make your commitment to improving safety and health in your workplace. This year's theme, Work Health and Safety through COVID-19 acknowledges and reflects the wide-reaching impacts of COVID-19 on Australian businesses, employers and workers.
- Injury-Free Month - Simply nominate a day during October to promote safety and the importance of injury prevention. The KIDS Foundation Injury Free Campaign is an annual event that highlights the importance of safety and injury prevention.
- World Smile Day - is celebrated on the first Friday in the month of October every year. The idea of World Smile Day was coined and initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. He is known to have created the yellow Smiley Face in 1963. The World's first World Smile Day was held in the year 1999 and has been held annually since.
02 October
- World Day for Farmed Animals - founded in 1983, is dedicated to exposing the needless suffering and death of sentient animals raised and slaughtered for food. World Day for Farmed Animals hopes to continue until animals are no longer seen as commodities, raised for their flesh and by-products.
- World Farm Animals Day - a time dedicated to exposing, mourning, and memorializing the needless suffering and slaughter of the more than 55 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other sentient land animals in the world's factory farms and slaughterhouses. It is a time for all to speak out against the atrocities and brutalization of animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy.
- World Habitat Day - The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of human habitat.
02 - 6th October
- Australian Wildlife Week - Australian Wildlife Week, established by the Society in 2019, is celebrated nationally during the first week of October each year to encourage a positive relationship between humanity and nature.
04 October
- World Animal Day - started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
04 October - 10th October
- World Space Week - This week celebrates the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition as well as every child's imagination.
5 October
- World Teachers Day - a day devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world. The real point is to provide a time to look at and address issues pertaining to teachers. Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.
- International Day of the Girl Child - The Day of the Girl is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls' lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to us, we can teach other people-grownups, boys, and girls all across the world a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity. October 11 is not just a day but a movement. 11.10 is bigger than one issue, one organization, or even one country.
6th October
- World Smile Day - Every year on the first Friday of October the world celebrates World Smile Day. The possibility of World Smile Day was authored and started by Harvey Ball who was a business craftsman from Worcester Massachusetts. He is known to have made the Smiley Face in the year 1963.
12 October
- World Sight Day - seeks to raise public awareness of low vision. Blindness and low vision are critical issues in Australia, especially with an ageing population. World Sight Day is a global initiative providing an opportunity to raise the profile of the causes of blindness and vision impairment and the preventative measures.
15 October
- National Mushroom Day - is one day to celebrate all things MUSHROOMS. Did you know that mushrooms are NOT a vegetable? They are FUNGI and belong in a separate food kingdom to ordinary fruits and vegetables
- Global Handwashing Day - was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap. Over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world.
15th - 21 October
- National Nutrition Week - It celebrates vegetables and the important role they can play in our health and wellbeing.
16 October
- World Food Day - a reminder that everybody deserves and needs access to food, particularly those who can't keep up with rising food prices.
16 - 22 October
- Aussie Backyard Bird Count - BirdLife Australia's first nationwide bird survey. All you need is 20 minutes, your favourite green patch and some keen eyesight (or binoculars!) Record the birds you see on our brand new Aussie Bird Count app (or website) and you'll instantly see live information on how many people are taking part near you and the number of birds and species counted right across your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia!
17 October - 23 October
- National Water Week - is dedicated to raising community awareness about current and future water issues and encouraging the community to take action to protect our vital water sources. It's also a celebration of water achievements in painting a sustainable future for generations to come.
21 October
- Loud Shirt Day - Fish out your flashiest frock, or dig out that awesome Hawaiian shirt you've been hiding in your wardrobe and get it on! Loud Shirt Day is the day you wear something really, loud to help give deaf children the gift of sound and speech. Whether you fancy stripes, florals, polka dots or paisley, as long as it's got colour and pizzazz, it'll be perfect for Loud Shirt Day.
21 October - 29 October
- Children's Week - is an annual event celebrated in Australia during the fourth week of October. Children's Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. It is also a time for children to demonstrate their talents, skills and abilities.
23 October - 30 October
- National Unity Week - Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders announced a National Day of Unity in response to growing reports of discrimination, violence and rising tensions within the Australian community. Celebrate National Unity Week by hosting or attending an inter-faith or intercultural event in your community. Meet people of other cultures and faiths, learn from one another and recognise that unity builds a better future than division ever could.
24 October
- World Kangaroo Day - aims to celebrate kangaroos and raise awareness to the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife in the world. Loss of habitat, bushfires, drought, predators, legal and illegal hunting, car accidents, fences, disease and animal cruelty are driving local populations of kangaroos to extinction. Instead of protecting kangaroos, each year Australian Governments sanction the commercial slaughter of millions of kangaroos for their meat and skins. World Kangaroo Day shines a light on the problems facing Australia's kangaroo. We need to raise awareness and educate people because the commercial kangaroo industry is shrouded in 50 years of claims, which are no longer true - if they ever were. It's time to debunk the myths and educate the public before more local kangaroo populations become extinct.
25th October
- Children's Day - Universal Children's Day in Australia is celebrated every year on the fourth Wednesday in October. This holiday is a part of Children's Week, a major event dedicated to the rights of children.
- World Pasta Day - The World Pasta Day holiday itself only recently began in 1995 when 40 pasta producers from around the world gathered to hold the first World Pasta Congress. Since then, diners around the world have joined forces each October to pay tribute to one of the most delicious and versatile foods ever.
27 October
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Day For Daniel - is Australia’s largest national child safety education and awareness day and honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
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Bandana Day - This year's National Bandana Day aims to raise $1.7 million to help young people living with cancer. The theme for this year's event is "Attitude is Everything - Buy It, Wear It". By selling, buying and wearing bandannas, you can show your support for young people as they fight cancer.
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.
