The Close the Gap Campaign today celebrates National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day and its 2026 theme, Living Our Truth, honouring the voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.
Led nationally by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is a day to recognise the strength, pride and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and to affirm their right to grow up safe, supported, connected to family, community, culture and Country.
This year’s theme, Living Our Truth, speaks to the power of truth-telling and the importance of knowledge being carried across generations. It honours the role of ancestors, Elders, families and communities in sharing stories, language, culture and identity with the next generation. Close the Gap Campaign Co-Chair Karl Briscoe said Children’s Day is “a moment of celebration, pride and responsibility”.
“Today we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as strong, proud and powerful holders of truth, culture and knowledge,” Mr Briscoe said. “Living Our Truth reminds us that children do not thrive in isolation. They thrive when they are surrounded by culture, language, Country, kin, community and the wisdom of Elders. If we want a fair and just future, we must make sure every child has access to everything they need to grow strong — including culture, early learning, health care, housing, safety and support.”
The latest Closing the Gap data continues to show areas of progress, including gains that reflect the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and community-controlled organisations. But it also shows the urgency of the work still ahead. Of the 19 national socio-economic targets, the targets assessed as worsening include areas that directly affect children and young people — including children thriving in their early years, youth justice, child protection and suicide prevention.
“We should be proud of the progress that has been made where governments have listened to
communities and invested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions,” Commissioner Katie Kiss
said. “But we cannot accept a future where the targets going backwards are the ones that shape the
lives of children. These are not just statistics. They are children, young people, families and communities
who deserve systems that protect, nurture and uphold their rights.”
The Close the Gap Campaign calls on all governments to accelerate action under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap by investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled services, strengthening self-determination, and ensuring children and families can access culturally safe supports from the earliest years.
On National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, the Campaign urges governments to listen to children, families, Elders and communities — and to act on the truth they share.
