What is Children's Week?
Children's Week is a national celebration that promotes awareness of children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and encourages the community to recognise the important role children play. Children's Week 2026 will take place from 24 October to 1 November 2026.
Each year, a different article of the Convention is selected as the Children's Week theme, providing an opportunity for children, families, educators and organisations to learn about and celebrate children's rights.
In 2026, the focus is on Article 30 of the UNCRC: Children have the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their religion. The theme highlights the importance of culture, language, identity and belonging in children's lives, and recognises the role families, educators, community organisations and services play in supporting children to feel respected, valued and included.
What’s happening for Children’s Week 2026 in Western Australia?
Meerilinga Children and Community Services (Meerilinga), the convener of Children's Week in Western Australia, coordinates and promotes celebrations of the event across the State. Through community partnerships, resources, advocacy and a grants program, Meerilinga supports local organisations and communities to deliver activities that celebrate children, promote their rights and encourage participation.
The Department of Communities is pleased to support Meerilinga's Children's Week WA Community Grants Program, which helps community organisations deliver activities that strengthen community connection, celebrate diversity and promote the rights and wellbeing of children and young people across Western Australia.
Families, educators, services and community organisations are encouraged to visit the Children's Week WA website for information about local events, resources and ways to get involved.
Children's Week WA Community Launch Event
To officially launch Children's Week WA 2026, Meerilinga will host a free community event in Ballajura on Saturday 24 October 2026. The twilight event will bring together children, families and community organisations for an afternoon of free entertainment, activities and opportunities to connect with local services.
Further information about the launch event is available on the Children's Week WA website.
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
This Children's Week, the Department of Communities (Communities) is committed to supporting WA families by building greater understanding of what they should expect of organisations when engaging with their children.
As part of the WA Government’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, Communities has launched a social media campaign and a suite of resources to expand community awareness of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, directing new audiences to the Child Safe Organisations Knowledge Hub.
The Campaign has been developed to support families, parents, carers, children and young people to know what to look for, and questions to ask organisations who engage with children, so parents and carers can feel confident their child will be safer when participating in organisations. During Children’s Week, you can help support organisations to become safer for children by sharing the campaign throughout your networks.
