Dates of significance

Date: 1 January
Date of Significance: New Year's Day
Description: National Public Holiday.

Date: 7 January
Date of Significance: Orthodox Christmas
Description: Orthodox Christmas also celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, focusing on religious customs, liturgies, and traditional rituals.

Date: 26 January
Date of Significance: Australia Day
Description: The official national day of Australia and national Public Holiday.

Date: 29 January
Date of Significance: Lunar New Year
Description: Lunar New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar.

Date: 11 February
Date of Significance:  Safer Internet Day
Description: To make the internet a safer and better place for all, especially for children and young people. 

Date: 14 February
Date of Significance:  Library Lovers' Day
Description: To celebrate the valuable roles libraries play in our lives and to re-engage with our libraries and 'show the love'.

Date:  21 February
Date of Significance:  International Mother Language Day
Description: In recognition that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion.

Date: 2 March
Date of Significance:  Clean Up Australia Day
Description: To inspire and empower communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment.

Date:  8 March
Date of Significance:  International Women's Day
Description: To celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Date: 17-23 March
Date of Significance:  National Playgroup Week
Description: To celebrate and appreciate the many benefits of playgroups.

Date: 17-23 March
Date of Significance:  Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Description: Neurodiversity refers to a world where neurological differences are recognised and respected as all other human variations.

Date:  18-24 March
Date of Significance:  Harmony Week
Description: To celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Date: 20 March
Date of Significance:  National Close the Gap Day
Description: To pledge support for achieving Indigenous health quality by 2030.

Date:  26 March
Date of Significance:  Epilepsy Awareness Day
Description: Purple Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness, dispelling myths, and increasing support for people living with epilepsy.

Date: 30-31 March
Date of Significance:  Eid al Fitr
Description: The Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, ends with the festival of Eid al Fitr.  A celebratory meal breaks the fast, and good deeds have special significance during this time.  Eid is also a time of forgiveness and making amends.

Date:  30 March
Date of Significance:  National Neighbour Day
Description: A day to build care and camaraderie with those who live in close proximity.

Date:  31 March
Date of Significance:  Transgender Day of Visibility
Description: An international celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising trans and gender diverse experiences and achievements. 

Date:  18 April
Date of Significance:  Good Friday
Description: Good Friday is a religious and national Public Holiday in Australia and is held on the Friday before Easter Sunday. 

Date:  20 April
Date of Significance:  Easter Sunday
Description: Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion.  A significant event in the Christian calendar. 

Date: 25 April
Date of Significance:  ANZAC Day
Description: A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.

Date:  April
Date of Significance:  Youth Week
Description: To highlight the contributions and achievements of young people (aged 12–25).

Date:  5-11 May
Date of Significance:  National Family Day Care Week
Description: To recognise and promote the important role family day care educators and services play in the development and wellbeing of children.

Date: 5-12 May
Date of Significance:  Road Safety Week
Description: To highlight the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it. 

Date: 12-18
Date of Significance:  Neighbourhood House Week
Description: Neighbourhood House Week is an annual national celebration, recognising the important contribution of neighbourhood houses in local communities across Australia.

Date: 12 May
Date of Significance:  Buddha Day
Description: Vesak or Buddha Day is an important day of celebration for Buddhists. The holiday is traditionally celebrated to commemorate Buddah's birth, enlightenment and death.

Date: 12 May
Date of Significance:  International Nurses Day
Description: To mark the contributions that nurses make to society. 

Date: 13-19 May
Date of Significance:  Education Week
Description: An annual celebration of education in Victoria. 

Date: 13-19 May
Date of Significance:  National Families Week
Description: To celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society. 

Date: 17 May
Date of Significance:  IDAHOBIT
Description: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.

Date: 19-25 May
Date of Significance:  National Volunteer Week
Description: To celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers and to say thank you.

Date: 21 May
Date of Significance:  National Simultaneous Storytime
Description: To promote the value of reading and literacy, every year an Australian picture book is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Date: 29 May
Date of Significance:  National Sorry Day
Description: To remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as 'The Stolen Generations'.

Date: 27 May - 3 June
Date of Significance:  National Reconciliation Week
Description: 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. 

Date:  5 June
Date of Significance:  World Environment Day
Description: To inspire positive environmental change.

Date: 9-15 June
Date of Significance:  Men's Health Week
Description: To highlight the importance of men's health and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities.

Date: 15 June
Date of Significance:  World Elder Abuse Day
Description: To raise awareness regarding the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people.

Date: 15-21 June
Date of Significance:  Refugee Week
Description: To inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contribution made by refugees to Australian society.

Date: 20 June
Date of Significance:  Matariki
Description: Celebration of the Maori New Year. 

Date: June
Date of Significance:  Pride Month
Description: To celebrate the LGBTIQA+ community and reflect on how far civil rights have progressed in half a century and an opportunity to protest discrimination and violence. 

Date: 6-13 July
Date of Significance:  NAIDOC Week
Description: To celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. 

Date: 27 July
Date of Significance:  National Tree Day
Description: Australia's largest tree planting and nature care event. 

Date: 28 July - 3 August
Date of Significance:  National Library and Information Week
Description: To celebrate the work that library and information workers do all around Australia. 

Date: 1-7 August
Date of Significance:  World Breastfeeding Week
Description: To protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Date: 4 August
Date of Significance:  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
Description: A time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, and all Australians, to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children. 

Date:  4-10 August
Date of Significance:  National Homelessness Week
Description: To raise awareness of the impact of homelessness on Australia via national and local community events, including providing information on the importance of housing as a solution and educating communities on how they can make a difference. 

Date:  16-23 August
Date of Significance:  Children's Book Week
Description: To highlight the importance of reading books and shines a spotlight on Australian children's authors and illustrators. 

Date: 18 August
Date of Significance:  Vietnam Veterans' Day
Description: To commemorate the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

Date: 29 August
Date of Significance:  Wear it Purple Day
Description: An annual expression of support and acceptance to rainbow young people from the LGBTIQA+ community.  

Date: 1-8 September
Date of Significance:  Adult Learners Week
Description: To promote the benefits of learning. 

Date: 4 September
Date of Significance:  National Early Childhood Educators Day
Description: To recognise and celebrate the work of Australia's educators in early learning services for their wonderful contribution to the wellbeing and healthy development of the young children in their care. 

Date: 7-13 September
Date of Significance:  National Child Protection Week
Description: A national campaign to promote the message of a safe and healthy life for every child, now and into the future.

Date: 11 September
Date of Significance:  RU OK? Day
Description: To encourage people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.

Date: 17 September
Date of Significance:  Australian Citizenship Day
Description: To reflect on the meaning and importance of Australian citizenship, and the responsibilities and privileges we have as citizens.

Date: 30 September
Date of Significance:  Anniversary of the findings of the Disability Royal Commission
Description: A day to acknowledge the release of the Royal Commission Report into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with a Disability and what action Council is taking.

Date: 1 October
Date of Significance:  International Day of Older Persons
Description: To raise awareness about the issues affecting older people.  Council's recognition aligns with the Victorian Seniors Festival.

Date: 1-2 October
Date of Significance:  Yom Kippur 
Description: Also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish year. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. 

Date: 5-11 October
Date of Significance:  Mental Health Week
Description: To address and highlight the important connection between the social determinants of health and mental health; and promote effective prevention strategies to keep people mentally healthy.

Date: 12-18 October
Date of Significance:  Carers Week
Description: To raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles. 

Date: 20 October
Date of Significance:  Diwali
Description: Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It symbolises the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.

Date: 20-24 October
Date of Significance:  National Water Week
Description: To build awareness around the value of water.    

Date: 5 November
Date of Significance:  Birth of Guru Nanak
Description: This day commemorates Guru Nanak Sahib, the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru. This day may also be called Guru Nanak Gurpurb, Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav or Guru Nanak Dev Hi Jayanti.

Date: 10-16 November
Date of Significance:  National Recycling Week
Description: To educate and empower people to do the right thing when they're at the bin.

Date: 11 November
Date of Significance:  Remembrance Day
Description: To acknowledge those who died while serving in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. 

Date: 19 November
Date of Significance:  International Men's Day
Description: International Men's Day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities.  Highlights positive role models and raise awareness of men's well-being.

Date: 20 November
Date of Significance:  Transgender Day of Remembrance
Description: To honour the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

Date: 25 November - 10 December
Date of Significance:  16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
Description: To call for the elimination of gender-based violence.

Date: 3 December
Date of Significance:  International Day of People with Disability
Description: To increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

Date: 10 December
Date of Significance:  International Human Rights Day
Description: To proclaim the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Date: 18 December
Date of Significance:  International Migrants Day
Description: To raise awareness about the challenges and difficulties of international migration.

Date: 25 December
Date of Significance:  Christmas Day
Description: An annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed by Christians as a religious and cultural celebration.