How to Teach Kids About Australia Day and Its Counter Holiday, Invasion Day, Respectfully

As the world gets more and more involved in the process of globalization, new challenges emerge. One undeniable challenge is the clash between the historical identities of people and cultures who once stood at opposite sides, fighting for survival. Today, these same cultures live together, although their perspectives and stories remain opposed. We might call this a historical burden that adds another layer of complexity when teaching historical events, such as Australia Day for kids.

Kids don’t need to bear the same burden of our ancestors on their shoulders, although they need to develop a sense of belonging by understanding where they come from. It’s no secret that this is a very fine line, but just as we tackled the difficult topics of teaching kids about historical bias through the history of Thanksgiving and Columbus Day, we believe we can also guide you in teaching kids about the controversy of Australia Day, or Invasion Day, as Aboriginal people and the Torres Strait Islander people prefer to call it.

Australia Day got a lot more controversial in recent years, which is why teachers and homeschooling parents should address this sensitive issue. If not, chances are children are going to hear or read about it on the Internet. Plus, aside from learning more about Australia, children are going to learn what it means to “put oneself in another person’s shoes,” developing a sense of understanding, respect, empathy toward different perspectives, opinions, or points of view – an essential skill for personal development and emotional intelligence.

So, without further ado, let’s begin.

What is Australia Day?

Australia Day is a national holiday that takes place on the 26th of January every year – the day that Arthur Phillip landed his fleet on the eastern seaboard and established the first, permanent European settlement in Australia. This happened back in 1788, and it marks the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. This event shaped the development of the continent and turned it into the present day Australia we all know. 

The History of Australia Day

Before the arrival of Arthur Phillip, Australia was known as New South Wales. The country wasn’t uninhabited, as a lot of tribal, clan, and language groups lived there for a very long time. However, Britain had a plan to make it a penal colony (a place where exiled prisoners are sent to live). 

This is why the British government appointed captain Arthur Phillip to take a big ship and transport many of the people who broke the law in Britain to New South Wales (present-day Australia). These people were supposed to work the land, grow crops, and rear animals to provide food, wool, and other products for themselves and for Britain. 

On the 26th of January, Arthur Phillip’s ship landed on Sydney Cove and after years of hard work, managed to create a prosperous colony. The men who worked there felt happy and free. They started to feel like this new land was their home and wanted to celebrate this by keeping alive the memory of the day they arrived in this country. 

Some sources say that annual celebrations started as early as the 1800s when politicians and businessmen celebrated with private dinners. Just a couple of years later, the celebrations became more official as people started to publicly celebrate Foundation Day (which is now called Australia Day). 

After an English explorer, Matthew Flinders, circumnavigated the continent in 1803, drew a map, and suggested the name Australia (which in Latin simply means southern), people slowly started to refer to New South Wales as Australia. However, before the holiday became known as Australia Day, it was first changed from Foundation Day into Anniversary Day. 

While it was called Anniversary Day, people started celebrating it more intensely. For example, in 1837, the first Anniversary Regatta was held in honor of the holiday. The regatta is a sailing race and the Australian regatta is believed to be the oldest sailing race in the world.

However, it wasn’t until 1938 that this holiday was declared a national public holiday (which means the people don’t go to work on that day) and became known as Australia Day.  

Why Do Some People Think the British Settlement in Australia was a Bad Thing?

Some people take a lot of pride in celebrating Australia Day, but not everyone shares the same sentiment. Kids may wonder why some people don’t like celebrating their country’s “birthday”?

Well, the reason for this is because we only told one side of the story – the side of the people who came from Britain to take the land and make it their home. But, you may remember that we’ve mentioned that Australia (then known as New South Wales) wasn’t an uninhabited land. 

In fact, archaeologists found out that indigenous people lived in Australia as early as 60,000 B.C, maybe even before that as there’s still debate among researchers about the exact period. However, this is a very, very long time. 

Indigenous Populations

The indigenous groups that lived on the southern continent had a population of over 100,000 people and were mainly divided into two large groups – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These people had their own traditions, beliefs, legal system, and rights over the land. 

When the British first arrived, they weren’t aggressive toward the people who already lived there. But as the colony became stronger and the population of the colony grew, they gradually dispossessed the native people of their land.

The arrival and presence of the Britains also exposed the native people to a lot of unfamiliar diseases that swept through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, affecting them greatly. 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2016, only 3.3% of the total population in Australia were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. 

What is Invasion Day?

As we’ve seen, the foundation of the British colony in Australia wasn’t good for everyone. The people who already lived there felt like their land was invaded. This is why, today, some people in Australia call this holiday Invasion Day or National Day of Mourning. 

They believe that celebrating the day that the British fleet arrived in Australia is disrespectful toward the people who already lived there. This is why they want to change the date and celebrate this holiday on another day.

These ideas have culminated into a full-blown movement that takes the form of annual protests on or around the actual day of the holiday.  

There’s a lot of room for debate on what’s the right thing to be done in this situation, and it might be an excellent mental exercise for kids to try and argue for or against these two positions in a group task. There’s no right or wrong answer. The problems can only be solved by reaching a compromise between the two opposing sides. This is why we believe that teaching Australia Day to kids can go far beyond historical fact sharing. Kids can learn the importance of taking other people’s feelings into considerations and making complex decisions through negotiations and compromises so we can all live together in peace. 

Australia Day Celebrations

We’ve seen that in the past, Australia Day was celebrated first by private dinners among politicians and businessmen, and later by public celebrations, such as the Anniversary Regatta. 

Today, outdoor concerts and festivals, barbecues in the parks, sports competitions, and a firework performance are some of the main traditional activities during this holiday. 

In the capital, the regatta (boat race) is still the main attraction, while in other cities, parades are usually being organized. 

Another mark of Australia Day is the citizenship ceremonies, which became so popular that the holiday became a symbol for the acquisition of Australian citizenship. 

On our website, you’ll find a lot more information about Australia Day for kids, such as interesting facts, lesson plans, quizzes, and all-inclusive printable worksheet bundles. Simply, follow the links we’ve attached in this article, or browse through our extensive section about Australia-related worksheets and find the bundles that will be of most use to you. 

Teaching Resources: Australia Day for Kids

We’ve already touched upon the subject of this section in our last paragraph, but a good organizational structure means to have everything in one place, so here are all the teaching resources we’ve handpicked for teachers as well as homeschooling parents. 

Australia Day Worksheets 

Apart from the above-linked resources, we believe these bundles will also come in handy when trying to build a meaningful lesson plan: 

• New South Wales Facts & Worksheets
• Arthur Phillip Facts & Worksheets
• First Fleet Facts & Worksheets
• Aboriginal Peoples of Australia Facts & Worksheets
• Torres Strait Islanders Facts & Worksheets
• Australia Facts & Worksheets
• Australia (Continent) Facts & Worksheets

Australia Day Children’s Books

Not all the books on this list have Australia Day as the main subject, but all of them explore the beauty and characteristics of Australia. 

• My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina. 
• ‘A is for Australia’ by Frane Lessac.
• ‘Possum and Wattle’ by Bronwyn Bancroft.
• ‘Why I Love Australia’ by Bronwyn Bancroft.
• ‘The Big Book of Australian History’ (second edition) by Peter Macinnis.

Tips for Teaching Australia Day to Kids

Before we say goodbye, let’s review the main points of this article that will help you teach Australia Day for kids, as well as Invasion Day, in a respectful and meaningful way. 

Stick to the Facts

You can’t go wrong, offend anyone, or fall into the trap of historical bias if you stick to facts – our Australia Day facts worksheet bundle can help you in this task. Of course, you can’t talk only about the facts, but making them the main-core of the lesson is a step in the right direction. 

Don’t Talk in Favor of One Position 

Let’s face it, we’re all human, which means we have our own personal view of the world. If you’re Australian, then having a strong opinion or sentiment toward this controversy is almost inevitable. This is why it’s important to make bullet points and review them once or twice to make sure that you don’t project your own attitude on the subject while lecturing. 

Objectively Present the Arguments of Both Sides

This follows from the tip above. While you make the structure of the lesson or presentation, make sure both sides of history are equally represented. It wouldn’t be objective if you talk about Australian history through the eyes of the British settlement for half an hour and then briefly mention the indigenous people who lived there before. Instead, you can make a complete timeline, starting with the indigenous people, their beliefs, and culture, slowly making your way through the British settlement and all the way to present-day Australia. 

Make the Conflict Relatable Through Mental Exercises

Finally, the best way to make kids understand a complex topic or concept, like the historical bias, is if you make a parallel with their everyday life. Many examples can be taken from the traditional school environment. One simple and trivial situation would be when a kid who always sits in a particular chair in the classroom is absent for several days, weeks, or even months. In their absence, another classmate starts sitting in that chair. What happens when the kid who was absent returns? 

Of course, this is far from a perfect example, but these mental exercises can help young children grasp the complexity of the subject and better understand both positions. 

Before You Leave

If you’re from Australia, this holiday probably has a special meaning for you and we’re sure you already have some festive activities in mind. However, for the rest of you, Australia Day is a fantastic opportunity to teach kids more about the history of Australia and the characteristics of this continent in general. 

Whether you’re a history teacher, a geography teacher, or a homeschooling parent, our worksheet bundles can help you create a fun and meaningful lesson plan that kids will remember. 

On our website, you can also find many other worksheet bundles for different subjects, events, and people. Simply, browse through our worksheet library and find what you’re looking for. 

Finally, don’t forget to check out our blog, where we regularly share amazing content, such as this article right here, in hopes of helping teachers and homeschooling parents in excelling the challenging educational demands.