The Kutalayna Collective brought families and community together to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day recently with a visit to the Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary in Bagdad.

This year’s theme, Little Footsteps, Big Futures was reflected in a day filled with activities designed to celebrate culture, Country and community. Families gathered on Country to share damper cooked over the fire, go on bush walks, spot native animal carvings and enjoy healthy food together. Children and adults joined in kipli & kani, which means food and talk in palawa kani, the language of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Joelene, Harmony’s mother from the Kutalayna community, shared just how meaningful the experience was for her and her family. “This was Harmony’s first outing in the bush,” says Joelene. “She loved walking, touching everything, and exploring new things. She was so happy being around her friends and a great group of mums and kids. I think it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her. I don’t have a licence, so this was a really special opportunity for me as a single mum.’

Nicole, Willow’s mother, shared that engaging with Country through tactile, emotional, and sensory experiences during their visit to Chauncy Vale provided Willow with a rich opportunity to embrace the serenity of Country, while also building meaningful community connections.

This community gathering at Chauncy Vale highlights the importance of nurturing strong futures by creating opportunities for children to connect with community on Country within the Brighton Municipality.