09/11/2025
Children’s Week 2025 Gathering
Date: 4/11/2025
Venue: Pialba Scouts Hall
Theme: “Everyone Should Know About Children’s Rights”
This week’s gathering celebrated Children’s Week 2025, recognising the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of every child.
Every child has the right to feel safe, loved, and respected — to learn, play, and grow strong in their culture and identity.
When communities understand and uphold children’s rights, we create environments where every child can thrive. 💛
For HIPPY, this celebration offered an opportunity to embed rights-based practice, elevate children’s voices, and engage families in meaningful, strengths-focused ways.
At the workbench, children explored real tools to twist, turn, and hammer. This hands-on activity supported the development of fine motor skills, coordination, and confidence as they worked with screws, bolts, and nails.
At the “Perfect Gathering” drawing station, children were encouraged to express their ideas of what makes a gathering special. Parents were provided with prompt questions to help spark conversation and imagination. The children’s artwork and reflections provided valuable insights into what inclusion, fun, and belonging look like through their eyes — and we are excited to incorporate their ideas into future gatherings.
The “I Have the Right to Be Seen” photo frame craft invited children to decorate frames with festive materials such as Christmas stickers, sequins, and confetti, before adding a cheerful Polaroid photo. This activity promoted self-expression and celebrated children’s individuality and visibility.
The playdough table was another highlight. Playdough mats featuring pictorial representations of children’s rights helped initiate conversations about rights and responsibilities while children engaged in sensory play. These experiences fostered hand–eye coordination and fine motor development — foundational skills for writing and creative expression.
At the “Serpents and Sticks” and Bush Tucker games, children and families engaged in play that celebrated and promoted connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. These interactive games encouraged teamwork, storytelling, and respect for Country, while supporting children’s understanding of cultural knowledge, symbols, and traditional foods. Through fun and movement, families explored the importance of culture, community, and caring for the land — reinforcing that learning and belonging go hand in hand.
We concluded the morning by sharing a fresh fruit platter together, enjoying laughter, stories, and a strong sense of community connection.
A warm thank you to Charmaine from “Play with Your Kids” playgroup at the Hervey Bay Neighborhood Centre for visiting and supporting our gathering — your presence added so much joy and energy to the day!
