January
1 January to 31 December – 2026 Calendar of cultural and religious dates
This calendar is a guide intended to foster greater awareness and appreciation for the vibrant tapestry of cultural and religious traditions that are a part of Australian life. You should not treat it as an official or complete list of all cultural and religious dates celebrated or observed in Australia.
1 January to 31 January – Veganuary
Veganuary has inspired and supported millions of people all over the world to try vegan since 2014 – with participants from almost every country in the world.
Veganuary inspires and supports people all over the world to try vegan for January and beyond. Millions of people have already taken part. Will you join them?
4 January – World Braille Day
World Braille Day, celebrated since 2019, is observed to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realisation of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people.
Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font.
24 January – International Day of Education
Education is a human right
The right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to stipulate that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
26 January – International Day of Clean Energy
The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly (resolution A/77/327) as a call to raise awareness and mobilise action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet.
26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions, serve as a platform for international cooperation, and provide data and analyses on clean energy technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.
28 January – International Day of Peaceful Coexistence
Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the ability to live together amid our differences—of sex, race, language, religion, or culture—while upholding the justice and human rights that make such coexistence possible. It is an ongoing process and a long-term goal that demands constant care, vigilance, and active participation from everyone.
As one of the five pillars of the 2030 Agenda—alongside People, Planet, Prosperity, and Partnership—peace is central to its vision. The Agenda’s preamble underscores the goal of fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence.
With global instability and conflict on the rise, the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence serves as a platform to raise awareness of diverse cultures, values, ways of life, and beliefs, and to highlight the role of education in promoting tolerance.
The Day also offers an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the founding purposes and principles of the United Nations, as enshrined in international agreements and declarations over the years.
February
1 February to 28 February – Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Each year in Australia around 1,900 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In most cases the cancer will be diagnosed at an advanced stage, where it is very difficult to treat.
Ovarian Cancer Australia is committed to ensuring that every Australian knows more about ovarian cancer and its early symptoms.
We need progress. Let’s shine a light on ovarian cancer this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
1 February to 7 February – World Interfaith Harmony Week
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February, since the General Assembly designation in 2010. The General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.
1 February to 28 February – REDFEB
This February, join REDFEB and help fund life-saving heart research. Every step, every stroke, every move you make brings us closer to beating the world’s biggest killer.
Heart disease is one of Australia’s leading causes of death.
Heart Research Australia raises funds to support research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
The REDFEB goal is to reduce the devastating impact heart disease has on families and communities.
YOU can help by simply wearing red and donating.
1 February to 28 February – FEBFAST
Ditch the booze for 28 days, feel great, and feel even better knowing you’re raising funds for Lifeline to help prevent suicide.
2 February – World Wetlands Day
Wetlands are ecosystems, in which water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. A broad definition of wetlands includes both freshwater and marine and coastal ecosystems, such as all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans.
These lands are critical to people and nature, given the intrinsic value of these ecosystems, and their benefits and services, including their environmental, climate, ecological, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic contributions to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
Alhough they cover only around 6 per cent of the Earth’s land surface, 40 per cent of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Wetland biodiversity matters for our health, our food supply, for tourism and for jobs. Wetlands are vital for humans, for other ecosystems and for our climate, providing essential ecosystem services, such as water regulation, including flood control and water purification. More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods – that’s about one in eight people on Earth.
4 February – Primary Health Care Nurses Day
Primary Health Care Nurses Day is held on the first Wednesday in February each year. It celebrates the vital work of nurses who care for people outside hospital settings, including aged care, general practice, community health, schools, custodial care and other primary health care settings.
Primary health care is often the first point of contact in our health system, supporting prevention, early intervention and ongoing care. This day shines a spotlight on the 104,000+ primary health care nurses across Australia whose work improves the health and wellbeing of communities nationwide.
9 February to 15 February – National Lunchbox Week
National Lunchbox Week is an initiative of Nutrition Australia that aims to inspire Australian families to create enjoyable and nourishing lunchboxes.
Throughout the campaign we’re celebrating the lunchbox and how it reflects diversity, enjoyment and nourishment.
Encouraging enjoyable and pressure free lunchbox experiences supports children’s wellbeing and helps build a positive relationship with food.
National Lunchbox Week helps families, schools and early childhood settings by:
– inspiring practical lunchbox ideas and recipes
– supporting positive lunchbox experiences for children
– embracing the diversity of lunchboxes
– promoting supportive, judgment-free conversations around food.
10 February – World Pulses Day
Building on the success of the International Year of Pulses (IYP) in 2016 implemented by FAO and recognizing the potential of pulses to further achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated 10 February as World Pulses Day (WPD).
This celebration presents a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about pulses and the fundamental role they play in the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
With the help of governments, the private sector, Members and partner organizations, the public and youth, FAO works to facilitate the observance of this international day and support the production and consumption of pulses as part of sustainable food systems and healthy diets.
10 February – Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is a global day of action bringing communities, schools, organisations and families from 180 countries together to raise awareness of online safety issues and work towards a safer internet.
eSafety leads the day in Australia.
13 February – Anniversary of the National Apology Day to Stolen Generations
This event commemorates the anniversary of the Motion of Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, delivered in the House of Representatives chamber at Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, at 9:00 am on 13 February 2008 by the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd. The Apology acknowledged the injustices caused by past laws, policies, and practices that deeply affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations.
14 February – National Condom Day
Condoms are one of the oldest contraceptives around, and have helped to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections – humans invented them before we knew what germs were and before we even had electricity!
They’ve been found across the globe – Ancient Egypt used fine linen and in Ancient Rome they used sheep or goat intestines. In Ancient China they used silk paper, and in Ancient Japan they used tortoiseshell. In the mid-1800s, they were made out of rubber (and could be washed and reused…).
Thankfully, condoms today are made out of latex (or polyurethane if you have an allergy!) and come in different sizes, colours, with studs or ribs, flavours and more. Condoms aren’t a barrier to pleasure or fun, but are a way to increase safety, pleasure and fun with sex.
Taking part in our National Condom Day campaign gives everyone the opportunity to learn about condoms and safer sex and also start discussions and ask questions. Displaying posters, and handing out condoms and stickers is a great way to start conversations!
20 February – World Day of Social Justice
The Global Coalition for Social Justice was formally established in November 2023. This voluntary platform, led by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), now has more than 300 partners from governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, international organisations, civil society, and academia, all of which share the same goal: to build a world better tailored for social justice.
The Coalition aims to bolster multilateral cooperation and to encourage concrete actions at all levels, addressing social justice gaps; accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals; and championing social justice.
20 February – Mental Health Nurses’ Day
Celebrate Mental Health Nurses’ Day with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 2026 webinar and presentation of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses’ Mental Health Nurse of the Year award.
21 February – International Mother Language Day
Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Yet, due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether. When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression, valuable resources for ensuring a better future, are also lost.
Every two weeks a language disappears taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. UNESCO estimates that there are 8,324 languages, spoken or signed. Out of these, around 7,000 languages are still in use. Only a few hundred languages have genuinely been given a place in education systems and the public domain, and less than a hundred are used in the digital world.
Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages, which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way.
International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
23 February to 1 March – National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) is an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope and visibility to all those impacted by eating disorders. NEDAW 2026 will take place Monday, February 23 – Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Our theme is: Fighting for Change, Committed to Change – Every Body Belongs
24 February – International Family Drug Support Day
International Family Drug Support Day first started in 2016 and is held annually on or around 24 February to draw attention to the importance of families affected by alcohol and/or drugs, including the benefits of supporting families. When families are given education, awareness and tips on coping and keeping safe, the outcome for everyone is improved.
March
1 March – Zero Discrimination Day
On Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life and live it with dignity. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change.
Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.
1 March – World Seagrass Day
In May 2022, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/265 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day. The resolution highlights the urgent need to raise awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions for the conservation of seagrasses in order to contribute to their health and development, bearing in mind that enhancing ecosystem services and functions is important for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Why seagrass matters
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that are found in shallow waters in many parts of the world, from the tropics to the Arctic circle. They form extensive underwater meadows, creating complex, highly productive and biologically rich habitats.
Covering only 0.1% of the ocean floor, these seagrass meadows provide food and shelter to thousands of species of fish, seahorses, turtles, etc. and sustain some of the world’s largest fisheries. They improve water quality by filtering, cycling and storing nutrients and pollutants, reducing contamination in seafood. Highly efficient carbon sinks, they can store up to 18% of the world’s oceanic carbon, making them a powerful nature-based solutions to tackle climate change impacts. Because they buffer ocean acidification, they contribute to the resilience of the most vulnerable ecosystems and species, such as coral reefs. And to the coastal populations, they act as the first line of defense along coasts by reducing wave energy, protecting people from the increasing risk of floods and storms.
1 March to 31 March – The March Charge
The March Charge is a fun fitness challenge that has an enormous impact on how cancer is researched and treated.
Just by walking or running for Cancer Council this March, and raising funds, you’ll be helping us Charge ahead with cancer research.
Choose to Charge solo or get your friends, family, or colleagues together and do it as a team – it’s up to you.
Feel the Charge you get when you tell cancer where to go!
1 March to 31 March – World’s Greatest Shave
About 170,000 Australians are currently facing blood cancer, and 17 lose their life every day. We need to act, and we need to do it now.
By shaving, cutting, or colouring your hair, you have the power to make a real difference in the lives of Australians facing blood cancer.
When you sign up, you’ll join a fearless community of changemakers, and a movement that’s been transforming cancer care across Australia for over 25 years.
1 March to 31 March – The March Charge
The March Charge is a fun fitness challenge that has an enormous impact on how cancer is researched and treated.
Just by walking or running for Cancer Council this March, and raising funds, you’ll be helping us Charge ahead with cancer research.
Choose to Charge solo or get your friends, family, or colleagues together and do it as a team – it’s up to you.
Feel the Charge you get when you tell cancer where to go!
1 March – Clean Up Australia Day
Australia now produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100kg per person. Of this, only 13% of plastic is recovered and 84% of it is sent to landfill.
More concerningly, around 130,000 tonnes of the plastic we consume contaminates the marine environment each year.
By 2025 it is predicted that 99% of seabirds worldwide will have ingested plastic.
Get involved in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 1st March, 2026! Together, we can make a big, positive impact on our environment – one piece of litter at a time!
1 March to 31 March – PURPLEUP!
This March, will you stand with us and Purple Up for epilepsy?
Epilepsy affects 270,000 Australians — our friends, coworkers, brothers and sisters.
You might not always see it, but it’s there, shaping everyday lives.
Thursday 26 March is International Purple Day, a global movement to increase awareness, reduce stigma and raise vital funds for epilepsy support.
Let’s paint Australia purple!
Pick a day in March and Purple Up, yourself and your world! Wear purple, decorate your space with purple, or host a purple-themed event to show your support. Create lasting impact by raising funds throughout March. Rally your friends, family, or colleagues to support life-changing research, education, and epilepsy services.
Then on Thursday 26 March, we’ll celebrate together, sharing photos, stories and the incredible total raised across all fundraisers.
1 March to 31 March – Melanoma March
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world. Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting 20 to 39-year-old Australians and one Aussie is diagnosed with the disease every 30 minutes. It is estimated 1300 Australians will die from melanoma this year.
Melanoma March celebrates Melanoma Institute Australia’s major annual fundraising campaign. Each Melanoma March brings together melanoma patients, their families, and local communities to raise awareness and funds for research to reach our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
2 March to 15 March – NSW Seniors Festival
The festival celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to our local communities. It’s the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with over 500,000 people attending each year.
The NSW Seniors Festival will run from 2-15 March 2026.
The theme of the festival is Live life in colour!
2 March to 8 March – NSW Women’s Week 2026
NSW Women’s Week 2026 is set to kick off from Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March. Promising a dynamic series of events, focusing on inclusivity and celebrating the achievements of women across NSW.
Events will showcase the remarkable stories and accomplishments of women and girls from diverse backgrounds, including:
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
– culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
– those living with disability
– LGBTIQA+
– those living in regional, rural and remote NSW.
The week-long celebration will connect, celebrate, and pay tribute to women through a series of engaging events being delivered thanks to the NSW Women’s Week grants program and culminates with the announcement of the recipients of the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2026.
3 March – World Wildlife Day
People everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet our needs – from food, to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing. For us to enjoy the benefits and the beauty that nature brings us and our planet, people have been working together to make sure ecosystems are able to thrive and plant and animal species are able to exist for future generations.
World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora, to raise awareness of their many benefits to reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts.
3 March – World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day is an annual global advocacy event for raising awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care, and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues. Each year, this event is celebrated on 3 March, covering a specific theme on which the World Health Organisation and its partners carry out activities based on this theme.
4 March – World Obesity Day
By 2035, half of the world’s population – around 4 billion people – are expected to be living with overweight or obesity.
This is not just an adult issue. Childhood obesity is rising rapidly, with rates among school-aged children increasing almost fivefold since 1975, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood, increasing the risk of serious non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
World Obesity Day 2026 is a call to action for all 8 billion of us. Together, we can change the story of obesity.
5 March – International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness seeks to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people.
Since the founding of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to the Organization’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.
Weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, continue to be of primary concern, owing to their destructive power and the threat that they pose to humanity. The excessive accumulation in conventional weapons and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons jeopardizes international peace and security and sustainable development, while the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is seriously endangering civilians. New and emerging weapon technologies, such as autonomous weapons, pose a challenge to global security and have received increased attention from the international community in recent years.
Observed on 5 March, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a role in deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.
8 March – International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
Officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.
We invite you to learn about the history of women’s rights and the UN’s contribution to the cause.
8 March to 14 March – World Glaucoma Week
World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative organized by the World Glaucoma Association. We invite patients, eye care providers, health officials and the public to join forces in organizing awareness activities worldwide.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and distinct challenges may be present in different regions of the world. Our goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye and optic nerve checks to detect glaucoma as early as possible because there are available treatments for all forms of glaucoma to prevent visual loss.
12 March – World Kidney Day
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major and growing global health challenge, affecting 1 in 10 people worldwide.
Often silent in its early stages, CKD can progress unnoticed until it causes severe health consequences, profoundly impacting individuals, families, and communities.
The disease significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, reduces quality of life, and may advance to kidney failure, where survival depends on life-sustaining kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis or transplantation. Its burden is unevenly distributed, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations and exacerbating existing health inequities.
Early detection can save lives.
13 March – World Sleep Day
World Sleep Day is an opportunity to promote sleep health alongside thousands of other sleep health professionals and advocates. When we all promote sleep health and #WorldSleepDay together, our combined effort is greater than the sum of its parts.
Spread the word about sleep health on World Sleep Day, and help elevate the conversation around sleep!
16 March to 22 March – Harmony Week
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
16 March to 22 March – Brain Awareness Week
Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to foster public enthusiasm and support for brain science. Every March, participants host imaginative activities in their communities that share the wonders of the brain, and the impact brain science has on our everyday lives.
16 March to 20 March – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, organisations, and others around the world with the opportunity to recognise the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
17 March – World Social Work Day
World Social Work Day will be celebrated on 17 March 2026. The theme for this year, ‘Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society’, highlights the vital role of social work in bringing people together across communities, cultures, and systems to shape a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.
The 2026 World Social Work Day theme, “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society”, draws inspiration from the African philosophy of Harambee; a collective call for unity, mutual support, and shared responsibility. In a world increasingly fractured by conflict, inequality, displacement, and ecological crises, the theme is both a reminder and a challenge: that the only sustainable way forward is through cooperation, solidarity, and co-creation.
18 March – Swallowing Awareness Day
Swallowing Awareness Day is an opportunity to bring attention to people with swallowing needs and connect them with speech pathologists, the professionals who can help.
19 March – Close the Gap Day
National Close the Gap Day is celebrated in March each year. The Close the Gap Campaign is the result of the Australian public’s overwhelming support for improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Close the Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality is a highly regarded movement that has shaped government policy. It is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and supported by mainstream health and advocacy organisations from around the country.
Every year people are encouraged to hold their events on National Close the Gap Day to bring people together, to share information – and most importantly – to take meaningful action in support of achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality by 2030.
20 March – International Day of Happiness
It’s a day to be happy, of course! Happiness is a fundamental human goal. The United Nations General Assembly recognises this goal and calls for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.”
Governments and international organizations should invest in conditions that support happiness by upholding human rights and incorporating well-being and environmental dimensions into policy frameworks, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The effectiveness of governments in upholding peace and social order, as well as in the fields of taxation, legal institutions and delivery of public services, strongly correlates with average life satisfaction.
The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to join in celebration of the International Day of Happiness.
20 March – National Ride2School Day
National Ride2School Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel and one of the best days on the school calendar. It is a day full of fun and colour where students, teachers and parents discover the joy of riding and kick-start healthy habits for the future.
21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960.
In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all States.
The United Nations General Assembly reiterates that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. In its most recent resolution, the General Assembly also emphasized that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.
The United Nations has been concerned with this issue since its foundation and the prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in the public and private spheres. The principle of equality also requires States to adopt special measures to eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate racial discrimination.
21 March – International Day of Forests
Forests and economies is the theme of the 2026 International Day of Forests, celebrating the essential roles of forests in driving economic prosperity. These roles go well beyond income and jobs from forest production and the trade of renewable raw materials and foods: forests also sustain family and community agriculture, enhance agricultural productivity, and safeguard healthy watersheds.
With many countries seeking to move toward a sustainable bioeconomy, forest products offer nature-based solutions as replacements for carbon-intensive materials while generating new economic opportunities.
Forests are indispensable for healthy economies – today and for future generations.
21 March – World Down Syndrome Day
Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet know why this syndrome occurs, but Down syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health.
Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes, and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual.
In December 2011, the General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149). The General Assembly decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year. In order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, the General Assembly invites all Member States, relevant organisations of the United Nations system and other international organisations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organisations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner.
22 March – World Water Day
Access to water is a human right. Yet, 2.2 billion live without safely managed drinking water services, with devastating impacts for their lives and wider society.
A well managed water cycle underpins progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in relation to hunger, gender equity, health, education, livelihoods, sustainability and ecosystems.
Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment.
Without proper water governance, there is likely to be increased competition for water between sectors and an escalation of water crises of various kinds, triggering emergencies in a range of water-dependent sectors.
What is World Water Day?
World Water Day celebrates water and inspires action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance , held on 22 March, focusing on the importance of freshwater, coordinated by UN-Water and led by one or more UN-Water Members and Partners with a related mandate.
24 March – World Tuberculosis Day
Each year we commemorate World TB Day to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
26 March – Purple Day
Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness.
Last year, people in more than 85 countries on all continents participated in Purple Day!
27 March – Walk to Work Day
People who walk before or during work are generally healthier, more productive and less likely to be sick or absent. It’s in the best interests of all individuals and organisations to build walking into their daily routine and support the Walk to Work program.
Now in its 27th year, Walk to Work Day is being held on Friday 27 March 2026. The annual event encourages employees and employers to build regular walking into their daily routines.
Walk to Work Day promotes regular walking as a healthy activity. With millions of Australians living with all types of diabetes or at risk of type 2 diabetes there has never been a better time to get walking and start on the path to a healthier workplace and a healthier you.
30 March – International Day of Zero Waste
On 14 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution at its seventy-seventh session to proclaim 30 March as International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually. Türkiye, with 105 other countries, put forward the resolution, following other high-level decisions focused on pollution, such as the UN Environment Assembly resolution “End plastic pollution: towards an internationally legally binding instrument”.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) jointly facilitate the observance of International Day of Zero Waste.
As part of this campaign, Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, academia, women, youth and other stakeholders are invited to engage in activities aimed at raising awareness of national, subnational, regional and local zero-waste initiatives and their contribution to achieving sustainable development.
Promoting zero-waste initiatives through this international day can help advance all the goals and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 and Sustainable Development Goal 12. These goals address all forms of waste, including food loss and waste, natural resource extraction and electronic waste.
30 March – World Bipolar Day (WBD)
Celebrated every year on March 30th, World Bipolar Day (WBD) is a world-wide awareness initiative of ISBD in conjunction with the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD) and the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF).
Through international collaboration, WBD provides a platform for:
– global education
– open discussion
– improved sensitivity about bipolar disorder.
31 March – Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual international celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising transgender, gender diverse and non-binary experiences and achievements!
On 31 March celebrate with gender diverse people all around Australia by sharing stories, starting conversations, and attending events.
April
1 April to 30 April – Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Parkinson’s Awareness Month provides opportunities to learn more about the issues facing people living with Parkinson’s every day and how their lives can be improved – particularly through exercise, social opportunities, and community activities.
1 April to 30 April – Adenomyosis Awareness Month
At Endometriosis Australia, we’re amplifying the voices of those affected by this often-overlooked condition during Adenomyosis Awareness Month.
What is Adenomyosis?
It is a condition of the uterus that is diagnosed when there are glands and supporting structures of the endometrium found inside the muscular layers of the uterus. It is a common cause of pain and abnormal bleeding in women and its features often overlap the symptoms of endometriosis and in fact the two may co-exist in the same woman.
Why Awareness Matters?
This month, we have been sharing real and powerful stories on our social platforms to illuminate lived experiences and explain why raising awareness is vital.
2 April – World Autism Awareness Day
he United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139) to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status. The term Autism Spectrum refers to a range of characteristics. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance of this neurological variation allow those on the Spectrum to enjoy equal opportunity, and full and effective participation in society.
Autism is mainly characterized by its unique social interactions, non-standard ways of learning, keen interests in specific subjects, inclination to routines, challenges in typical communications and particular ways of processing sensory information.
The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and the lack of understanding has a tremendous impact on the individuals, their families and communities.
The stigmatisation and discrimination associated with neurological differences remain substantial obstacles to diagnosis and therapies, an issue that must be addressed by both public policy-makers in developing nations, as well as donor countries.
6 April – International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP)
Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.
To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.
7 April – World Health Day
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
11 April – Spark the Night | World Parkinson’s Day
On behalf of Parkinson’s Australia and the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease Association, we invite you to help us raise awareness around the #SparkTheNight initiative to illuminate 11.8 million lights for the 11.8 million individuals living with Parkinson’s worldwide, with over 150,000 of these living in Australia. We believe lighting up landmarks can be a powerful symbol of solidarity and advocacy for Parkinson’s awareness.
14 April – World Chagas Disease Day
Chagas disease, also known as “silent or silenced disease”, affects mainly poor people without access to health care or people without a political voice. The disease progresses slowly and often shows an asymptomatic clinical course. Without treatment, Chagas disease can lead to severe cardiac and digestive alterations and become fatal. Raising awareness of the disease is essential to improve the rates of early treatment and cure, together with the interruption of its transmission.
The World Chagas Disease Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020.
16 April to 26 April – Youth Week
Youth Week is an opportunity for young people across NSW to come together in their local communities.
Councils, youth organisations and schools work with young people to host free activities, events and competitions!
If you live in NSW and are aged between 12 and 24, you can get involved and celebrate Youth Week by:
– attending live events
– showcasing your talents
– taking part in competitions
– using your voice to advocate for things young people want in your local community
having fun!
20 April to 26 April – Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW)
For the past six years, LVW has supported our community through an unbelievably tough time, bringing vital attention to the experiences, perspectives and needs of those we represent. Our aims remain clear: to build public understanding of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people’s lives, to increase lesbian visibility and to create a legacy that benefits our community everywhere.
21 April – World Creativity and Innovation Day
There may be no universal understanding of creativity. The concept is open to interpretation from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development. Therefore, the United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.
Creativity shows who we are and what we value. It helps build a rich mix of cultures and supports social and economic growth. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), following the 2005 Convention helps countries strengthen their creative industries and promote artistic freedom.
22 April – International Mother Earth Day
Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Nature is suffering. Oceans filling with plastic and turning more acidic. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods, have affected millions of people.
Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet.
That is why we need to recover our ecosystems. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet – and its people. Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction. But we will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
For this International Mother Earth Day, let’s remind ourselves – more than ever – that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Let’s promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Join the global movement to restore our world!
23 April – World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD)
Children and adolescents form a third of the world’s population. Research has demonstrated that adverse experiences in childhood impact lifelong mental and physical health. Most mental disorders develop in childhood and adolescence (before the age of 25) and one-quarter of disability-adjusted life years for mental and substance use disorders occur in youths. The prevalence of mental disorders continues to rise in the young and is higher than adults. The need to improve understanding of this as well as to create awareness of its importance in families, communities and societies cannot be underestimated.
The objectives of the World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD) are to:
– Improve global public awareness about child and adolescent mental health.
– Create literacy and competencies in the promotion of child and adolescent mental health as well as reduce the stigma of mental disorders in these populations.
– Improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of child and adolescent mental disorders through international cooperation and understanding.
– Reach out to countries with scarce resources to develop child and adolescent mental health professionals.
24 April to 30 April – World Immunisation Week
World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
Through its convening power, WHO works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccines and immunisation and ensures that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high quality immunisation programmes.
The ultimate goal of World Immunisation Week is for more people and their communities, to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
25 April – World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. It was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007.
28 April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO), began to observe World Day in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.
This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference in June 2003. One of the main pillars of the Global Strategy is advocacy, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness of how to make work safe and healthy and of the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health.
28 April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.
May
1 May to 31 July – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Almost 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. We want to change that, and we need your help.
Your morning tea will help raise vital funds to bring us closer to a cancer free future.
1 May to 31 May – Thyroid Awareness Month
Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid symptoms can easily be overlooked as other health issues, so make sure if you are concerned about symptoms or changes, you ask your doctor to order Thyroid Blood Tests and a Thyroid Ultrasound if you are concerned about the physical health of your thyroid gland.
Thyroid disorders can have a huge effect on your health and wellbeing. Without the right amount of thyroid hormone that you need, your energy, thinking and body functions can be greatly affected.
1 May to 31 May – Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Cystic Fibrosis Australia – Every day, we dedicate ourselves to raising awareness and addressing the needs of our community.
While significant progress has been made, especially with the introduction of new modulators and treatments in recent years, it’s essential to recognise that not everyone in our community has access to, is eligible for, or responds well to these advancements.
Our mission is clear: our job is not done until every individual with CF has access to the care and treatment tailored to their unique needs. While our ultimate goal is to find a cure, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that ALL individuals in our community have access to the treatment and care necessary to live full, valuable lives without the burden of disease.
Join us in our ongoing efforts to advocate for equitable access to care, treatment, and support for every member of our CF community. Together, let’s continue to raise awareness, drive progress, and work towards a future where CF no longer dictates the lives of those affected by it.
1 May to 30 November – The Bloody Long Walk
The Mito Foundation supports people affected by mitochondrial disease (mito), funds essential research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures of mitochondrial disorders, and increases awareness and education about this devastating disease.
1 May to 31 May – Miracle Month of May
Miracle Month of May is a time to highlight the work of Miracle Babies supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals who care for them. As well as the stories of Australia’s littlest miracles.
1 May to 31 May – Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month
Each May is a chance for Australians to understand a little more about what it is like to live with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Many people living with these illnesses stay silent about the day-to-day issues they face but during May, we can help them speak up.
1 May to 31 May – Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month
NF Tumours should never be anyone’s normal.
Every day, children and adults are forced to fight an unrelenting foe, that is attacking their body from the inside out – without warning and without remorse. Those with visible signs struggle to be seen as more than just their NF, and those whose NF is invisible, struggle to make others understand. They face a life of uncertainty and anxiety; living with tumours that can cause blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, cancer, learning difficulties and disfigurement.
Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month is a time to share stories, statistics and messages of solidarity.
4 May to 10 May – Heart Week
Heart Week is Australia’s national heart health awareness week held in May each year.
It provides an opportunity for the Australian public and health professionals to start a conversation about heart health and take positive steps to reduce their risk of heart disease.
5 May – International Day of the Midwife
This is a chance for midwives to celebrate their profession and for all of us to recognise their work and contribution to maternal and newborn health.
We thank every midwife working across NSW Health for their ongoing commitment to high quality midwifery care and the dedication, skill and compassionate care you provide to women and their families.
5 May – World Hand Hygiene Day
Each year the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.
WHO calls on everyone to be inspired by the global movement to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), i.e. achieving better health and well-being for all people at all ages, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. Infection Prevention and Control, including hand hygiene, is critical to achieve UHC as it is a practical and evidence-based approach with demonstrated impact on quality of care and patient safety across all levels of the health system.
8 May – International Thalassaemia Day
More than just a day of remembrance, International Thalassaemia Day stands as a powerful call to action.
Spearheaded by the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) and bolstered by the support of its more than 240 member organisations and numerous partners, this day marks a critical juncture in advocacy efforts. It catalyses initiatives to propel the thalassaemia agenda forward at local, national, and global scales, ensuring that the voices of those impacted are not only heard but also met with timely, empathetic action.
10 May – World Lupus Day
World Lupus Day serves to call attention to the impact that lupus has on people around the world.
The annual observance focuses on the need for improved patient healthcare services, increased research into the causes of and cure for lupus, earlier diagnosis and treatment of lupus, and better epidemiological data on lupus globally.
World Lupus Day serves to rally lupus organisations and people affected by the disease around the world for a common purpose of bringing greater attention and resources to efforts to end the suffering caused by this disabling and potentially fatal autoimmune disease.
11 May to 17 May – UN Global Road Safety Week
The UN General Assembly mandated WHO and the UN regional commissions to plan and host periodic UN Global Road Safety Weeks to serve as a platform for global and regional, but mainly national and local, activities to raise awareness about road safety issues and to stimulate and advance responses as appropriate for these settings.
11 May to 17 May – National Families Week
National Families Week is a time to celebrate with your family, connect with your extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. No matter where you live – in our major cities or a remote community in the country – all Australians, including community organisations, schools, councils, companies and individuals are invited to participate in National Families Week each year.
The aim of National Families Week is to not only celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society, but to also reflect on the critical role that families play in teaching, supporting and nurturing children as they grow.
11 May to 17 May – National Palliative Care Week
National Palliative Care Week campaigns aim to raise awareness about palliative care and its benefits, and advocate to ensure quality palliative care is available for all, when and where they need it.
12 May – International Day of Plant Health
The United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The Day is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020.
Plant health is the foundation of food security and is interconnected with human, animal and environmental health. Healthy plants provide nutrient-rich diets for humans and animals and help promote a balanced ecosystem. Pest-infected plants can trigger a cascade of negative effects on food supplies and induce outbreaks of zoonotic diseases transmitted through harmful pathogens. Pesticides play a role in pest management but their overuse and poor management cause biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, ecosystem dysfunction, food safety concerns and pesticide resistance.
Plants are life – we depend on them for 80 percent of the food we eat and 98 percent of the oxygen we breathe. But we lose as much as 40 percent of crops to pests, setting back global efforts to ensure food security, harming precious biodiversity and impacting economies and livelihoods.
12 May – International Nurses Day
IND is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. ICN commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses’ Day (IND) resources and evidence.
14 May – Apraxia Awareness Day
Apraxia Kids envisions a world where every child with apraxia of speech reaches their highest communication potential through accurate diagnosis and appropriate timely treatment. We believe that every child deserves a voice.
However, we know that the first time many people hear “childhood apraxia of speech,” is when their child is receiving the diagnosis. Raising awareness means that upon receiving a diagnosis, a parent is aware of what that means, and the speech therapist is aware of how best to support the child and the family.
“The more people that know and understand Apraxia, the more support children and families will have. Early intervention is crucial. A team supporting a child with Apraxia is crucial. I’ve learned along the way, we don’t know what we don’t know. Let’s help people know about Apraxia!”
15 May – International Day of Families
In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.
On 25 September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals aiming to eliminate poverty, discrimination, abuse and preventable deaths, address environmental destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people, everywhere. Families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for the achievement of many of these goals.
15 May – TSC Global Awareness Day
One million people worldwide have TSC (Tuberous Sclerosis Complex). In Australia, one child is born with TSC every week. Research is helping us to discover new developments and treatments globally every year. The outlook for a child born with TSC today is very different to that of a child born even just 10 years’ ago. But, we will never be done fighting the fight until there is a cure for TSC.
Each year around the globe on 15 May individuals and families impacted by TSC come together to raise awareness for this devastating rare disease.
In 2022 TSA (Tuberous Sclerosis Australia) launched a Light the Way Giving Day to mark TSC Global Awareness Day. Hundreds of people across Australia shared their stories to shine a light on TSC.
16 May – International Day of Living Together in Peace
Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way.
The UN General-Assembly, in its resolution 72/130, declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace, as a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.
The Day invites countries to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure peace and sustainable development, including by working with communities, faith leaders and other relevant actors, through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals.
16 May – International Day of Light
International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, on the anniversary of the first successful laser operation in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. The study of light has led to promising alternative energy sources, lifesaving medical advances in diagnostics technology and treatments, light-speed internet and many other discoveries that have revolutionized society and shaped our understanding of the universe.
On this Day, UNESCO calls to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.
16 May – hae day 🙂
For hae day 🙂 on 16 May, we encouraged everyone to participate in all types of activities – physical activities and those helping overall wellbeing – as part of our #active4HAE challenge.
Any activity time reported on haeday.org was converted into steps, and the total powered us around the world. Participants were encouraged to regularly take part in activities, record the time spent, share photos of their activities, earn badges, and join a team if they wanted to.
17 May – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
May 17 marks the date in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the WHO Classification of Diseases. Over three decades later, LGBTQIA+ communities still face discrimination – but every one of us can make a difference.
Will you stand against discrimination?
18 May to 24 May – National Volunteer Week
2026 is the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), highlighting the vital role of volunteers in advancing sustainability. National Volunteer Week 2026 will support IVY 2026 by amplifying the voices of volunteers and taking action to help volunteering thrive.
National Volunteer Week 2026 celebrates the commitment of current volunteers and invites everyone to discover how giving their time and talents can spark joy, and a deep sense of purpose.
Make this Your Year to Volunteer and help create lasting, positive change.
19 May – World Fair Play Day
On 1 July 2024 the General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/78/310, proclaiming May 19 as World Fair Play Day.
Recognising the spirit of fair play and the values it embodies in both sports and everyday life, the resolution emphasises the role of sports, including for persons with disabilities, in fostering peace, development, community cohesion, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls.
The resolution further reaffirms the independence of sports and the leadership roles of the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees in their respective movements, urging the global community to recognize and raise awareness of World Fair Play Day.
19 May – World Family Doctor Day
World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) is marked each year on 19 May. WONCA first declared World Family Doctor Day in 2010, with the first celebrations held in 2011. Since then, it has grown into a global occasion to highlight the vital role and contribution of family doctors and primary care teams in healthcare systems around the world.
20 May – World Bee Day
By observing World Bee Day each year, we can raise awareness on the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and on the many challenges they face today. We have been celebrating this day since 2018, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Slovenia with the support of Apimondia, that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day.
The date for this observance was chosen as it was the day Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture, was born. Janša came from a family of beekeepers in Slovenia, where beekeeping is an important agricultural activity with a long-standing tradition.
Today bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining in abundance. This day provides an opportunity for all of us – whether we work for governments, organisations or civil society or are concerned citizens – to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.
21 May – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Held every year on 21 May, UNESCO leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.
With 89% of all current conflicts in the world occurring in countries with low intercultural dialogue, to forge effective cooperation and sustain peace, strengthening intercultural dialogue must be a priority.
According to UNESCO data, the cultural and creative sector is one of the most powerful engines of development worldwide. It accounts for more than 48 million jobs globally –almost half of which are held by women – representing 6.2% of all existing employment and 3.1% of global GDP. It is also the sector that employs and provides opportunities for the largest number of young people under the age of 30.
However, the cultural and creative sector still does not have the place it deserves in public policies and international cooperation.
21 May – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Thursday, May 21, 2026, help us celebrate the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)!
The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.
22 May – International Day for Biological Diversity
As the global community is called to re-examine our relationship to the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few.
This involves respecting, protecting, and repairing our biological wealth.
In December 2022, the world came together and agreed on a global plan to transform our relationship with nature. The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, sets 23 targets for 2030 and 5 global goals for 2050 to stop and reverse the loss of nature in 25 years. Among its goals: restore 20% of degraded ecosystems and reduce the introduction or settlement of invasive alien species by 50%.
24 May to 30 May – Food Allergy Week
Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies in the world, with more than 1.5 million Australians living with a food allergy. We also have one of the highest rates of hospital anaphylaxis admissions in the world. There has been a 51% increase in anaphylaxis presentations to emergency departments in a 5-year period, growing to more than 11,500 per year.
During Food Allergy Week, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia calls on all Australians to unite to help increase awareness and share information on what we can all do to improve safety for people who live with food allergies. Awareness and education help reduce the risk of allergic reactions, and effectively treat potentially life-threatening emergencies when they happen.
26 May – National Sorry Day
Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges 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’.
National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.
The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998, one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. The Bringing Them Home report is a result of a Government Inquiry into the past policies which caused children to be removed from their families and communities in the 20th century.
27 May to 3 June – National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is 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.
The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
30 May – International Day of Potato
From its domestication in the Andes, to its global spread through the Columbian Exchange and its involvement in key historical events such as the Irish Potato Famine, the potato has shaped civilisations and diets across continents over several millennia.
On 30 May, we spotlight the potato, Solanum tuberosum (L.) – a crop regularly consumed by billions of people. Potatoes are a key crop across diverse farming systems globally, ranging from smallholders producing diverse heirloom varieties by hand in the Andes, to vast commercial, mechanized farms in different continents. Potatoes contribute to the food security and nutrition as well as and livelihoods and employment of people in rural and urban areas the world over.
The Day is an opportunity to build on the International Year of the Potato, which was observed in 2008. The observance will also be used to underscore the importance of the crop to combating hunger and poverty and addressing environmental threats to agrifood systems. The roles of small-scale family farmers, a significant proportion of whom are women, in safeguarding the wide spectrum of the crop’s diversity, will also be recognized, while the cultural and culinary dimensions of the crop’s cultivation and consumption will be celebrated.
30 May – World MS Day
World MS Day takes place on 30 May every year. Share stories, raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).
31 May to 30 May – World No Tobacco Day
This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
The Member States of the World Health Organisation created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
June
1 June to 30 June – Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – Bowel Cancer Australia’s signature event to raise awareness of Australia’s second deadliest cancer and funds for the leading community-funded charity dedicated to championing what matters most to people impacted by bowel cancer and empowering everyone affected to live their best life.
1 June – Global Day of Parents
Designated by the General Assembly in 2012, Global Day of Parents provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their “selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.”
Families, parents and caregivers play a central role in child well-being and development. They offer identity, love, care, provision and protection to children and adolescents as well as economic security and stability. In keeping with the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, family and parenting support is increasingly recognised as an important part of national social policies and social investment packages aimed at reducing poverty, decreasing inequality and promoting positive parental and child well-being.
1 June to 30 June – Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Bowel Cancer Australia’s signature event to raise awareness of Australia’s second deadliest cancer and funds for the leading community-funded charity dedicated to championing what matters most to people impacted by bowel cancer and empowering everyone affected to live their best life.
1 June to 7 June – World Haemochromatosis Week
In the first week of June each year Haemachromatosis Australia joins with members of Haemochromatosis International, the international alliance of haemochromatosis support groups, to create a worldwide, coordinated haemochromatosis awareness campaign in each member country.
Using all forms of media, displays, and other activities, this week is an opportunity to focus attention on haemochromatosis and the risk of inherited iron overload.
1 June to 30 June – Go Pink
GO PINK brings the community together each June to make a proud pink pledge and raise funds for world-class breast cancer research. It is about real people making a real difference by supporting research focused on how to prevent, detect, treat and stop the progression and recurrence of breast cancer.
1 June to 7 June – Orthoptics Awareness Week
Orthoptics Awareness Week (OAW) is a time to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of orthoptists and the essential role they play in eye health care.
1 June to 7 June – World Heart Rhythm Week
World Heart Rhythm Week (WHRW) is an annual global event, organised by the Arrhythmia Alliance, to raise public and professional awareness about heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) and their serious risks, encouraging people to learn about symptoms like palpitations or fainting, check their pulse and seek timely diagnosis and treatment for irregular heartbeats, which can lead to stroke or heart failure but are often manageable with early action.
1 June – World Orthoptic Day
World Orthoptic Day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in June. It serves as a powerful platform for orthoptists worldwide to:
– showcase the vital role orthoptists play in global eye health.
– raise the profile of the orthoptic profession within healthcare and the general public.
– advocate for the profession and its patients by engaging with governments and policy makers.
This special day symbolizes the unity and solidarity of the international orthoptic community and highlights the work orthoptists do to improve the lives of patients and contribute to the ophthalmic care sector.
1 June to 30 June – PRIDE Month
The Sydney Pride Festival celebrates the history, resilience and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community. This month-long event aims to raise awareness, educate and support LGBTQIA+ charities, organisations, and businesses, while fostering compassion and courage within the community and beyond.
We recognise the strength of individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community in the pursuit of acceptance and equality. It’s a time to reach out and support those facing challenges related to sexual identity, bullying, substance abuse or mental health issues, reinforcing the message that no one should feel alone in their struggles.
Pride Month is a time for us to come together as a community, to celebrate our diversity, and to advocate for the rights and acceptance of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, Through compassion and courage, we can create a more inclusive and supportive society for everyone.
Glenn Hansen, co-ordinator, Sydney Pride Festival.
3 June – World Bicycle Day
Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health, the General Assembly decided to declare 3 June World Bicycle Day.
It encouraged stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.
The Assembly welcomed initiatives to organise bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society.
3 June – Mabo Day
Every year on 3 June we celebrate Mabo Day, which commemorates the life of Eddie Koiki Mabo and marks the anniversary of the historic 1992 Mabo decision.
Eddie Mabo was a Torres Strait Islander man who challenged the claim that his family’s traditional land was owned by the Crown. The High Court’s decision in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) overturned that claim and set a precedent in Australian law for the recognition of Indigenous custodianship over their traditional land.
The decision also overturned the colonial concept of terra nullius, Latin for ‘nobody’s land’. At the time of European settlement of Australia, terra nullius was used to justify the British Crown’s claim on the land – as though it was previously unoccupied territory.
The Mabo decision was a watershed moment in Australian history. In addition to overturning a long-held colonial myth, it paved the way for subsequent native title claims. The Australian Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993 the following year.
Sadly, Eddie Mabo died several months before the decision was handed down, though his legacy lives on.
5 June – World Environment Day
Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on 5 June since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world. In 2025, it is hosted by the Republic of Korea.
Why take part?
Time is running out, and nature is in emergency mode. To keep global warming below 1.5°C this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Without action, exposure to air pollution beyond safe guidelines will increase by 50 per cent within the decade and plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems will nearly triple by 2040.
We need urgent action to address these pressing issues.
7 June – World Food Safety Day
World Food Safety Day on 7 June aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organisations. This international day is an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe, mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of food borne diseases globally.
8 June – World Oceans Day
The ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth.
The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of earth’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. Not to mention, the ocean is key to our economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.
Even though all its benefits, the ocean is now in need of support.
With 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, we are taking more from the ocean than can be replenished. We need to work together to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty but instead restores its vibrancy and brings it new life.
World Oceans Day reminds every one of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our Planet and a major source of food and medicine and a critical part of the biosphere.
The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.
Hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, in partnership with the non-profit organization Oceanic Global, this year’s annual program will celebrate the wonders of the ocean as a source of life that supports humanity and all other organisms on Earth.
8 June to 14 June – Walk for Him
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country – and research is key to beating it. Sign up to Walk for Him this Men’s Health Week and challenge yourself to go as far as you can for the men in your life.
Walk for Him is a fundraising event for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). The funds raised will go towards life-saving research, awareness campaigns and support services.
This Men’s Health Week, walk for zero deaths from prostate cancer.
10 June – Thank a First Responder Day
Thank a First Responder Day 2026 will be held on Wednesday 10 June to encourage the community to give thanks for the incredible work first responders do and the families that support them.
11 June – International Day of Play
Children learn best through play. Play creates powerful learning opportunities across all areas of development – intellectual, social, emotional and physical. Through play, children learn to forge connections with others, build a wide range of leadership skills, develop resilience, navigate relationships and social challenges as well as conquer their fears. When children play, they feel safe. Children play to make sense of the world around them. More generally, play provides a platform for children to express and develop imagination and creativity, which are key skills critical for the technology-driven and innovative world we live in.
Playful interactions contribute to the well-being and positive mental health of parents, caregivers and children. When humanitarian crises turn a child’s world upside down, it is in play that children can both find safety and respite from adverse experience while also being able to explore and process their experiences with the world. When children are driven from their homes by war, conflict, and displacement, access to nurturing relationships with parents/caregivers and peers are critical buffers from the effects of violence, distress and other adverse experiences. Play comforts and soothes children.
To encourage playful interactions between parents/caregivers and children, governments and other stakeholders need to create an enabling environment.
13 June – International Albinism Awareness Day
People with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide. Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.
In some communities, erroneous beliefs and myths, heavily influenced by superstition, put the security and lives of persons with albinism at constant risk. These beliefs and myths are centuries old and are present in cultural attitudes and practices around the world.
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution in 2013 (A/HRC/RES/23/13) calling for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. Moreover, in response to the call from civil society organizations advocating to consider persons with albinism as a specific group with particular needs that require special attention, the Council created the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.
In June 2015, the Human Rights Council appointed Ms. Ikponwosa Ero as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism. In August 2021, she was succeeded by Ms. Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond.
14 June – World Blood Donor Day
Every year countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless individuals who donate their blood for people unknown to them.
14 June to 20 June – Refugee Week
Refugee Week is the world’s largest festival celebrating and promoting greater awareness of refugees. As we mark the 40th celebration of Refugee Week in 2026, we invite you to be part of this milestone event.
From its beginnings in Australia in 1986, Refugee Week is now a global festival that takes place over one week in June, and encompasses World Refugee Day, marked annually on June 20. During this week, thousands of events take place around the world. In Australia, Refugee Week is centred on celebrating refugees, amplifying their voices, listening to their stories, celebrating the contributions they make to our communities and delighting in the diversity they bring to our country.
Besides marking the 40th Refugee Week, 2026 continues our celebrations of the millionth visa issued through Australia’s humanitarian program. We would love your organisation to be part of these landmark celebrations of hope, resilience and community.
15 June – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
According to World Heath Organization, elder abuse can be defined as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship, where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” Elder abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional, sexual and financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.
In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. Until recently, this serious social problem was hidden from the public view and considered mostly a private matter. Even today, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly underestimated and ignored by societies across the world. Evidence is accumulating, however, to indicate that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, designated as 15 June, was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in 2006, and recognised as a United Nations Day by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/66/127 adopted in 2011.
The resolution invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe this day in an appropriate manner.
15 June to 21 June – Dietitians Week
This national initiative shines a spotlight on the profound impact dietitians have – not only in guiding individuals toward better nutrition, but in shaping healthier communities and advancing public well-being.
18 June – International Day for Countering Hate Speech
The devastating effect of hatred is nothing new, but its scale and impact have grown with new communication technologies, making hate speech a frequent tool for spreading divisive ideologies globally. If left unchecked, hate speech undermines peace and development by fueling conflicts and human rights violations. The United Nations has long mobilised efforts against hatred to defend human rights and promote the rule of law, recognising hate speech’s impact across areas such as peace building, gender equality, and youth support.
The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech defines hate speech as communication that attacks or discriminates against individuals or groups based on identity factors like religion, ethnicity, or gender, though a universal legal definition is still under discussion. Despite challenges posed by online hate speech, governments, civil society, and individuals continue to develop strategies to combat it effectively.
The Plan of Action highlights the vital role of partnerships involving tech and social media companies, particularly the use of AI, in addressing hate speech. While AI offers valuable tools for early warning and conflict prevention, it also presents risks if not governed by human rights safeguards. In response, Member States have prioritised AI governance through the Global Digital Compact and recommitted to countering hate speech online.
To observe the Day, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and initiatives promoting strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech. This first UN system-wide initiative designed to tackle hate speech provides an essential framework for how the Organisation can support and complement States’ efforts.
20 June – World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
21 June – International Day of Yoga
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
Recognising its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.
The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
21 June to 27 June – World Allergy Week
Each year, WAO highlights a disease topic that needs greater public awareness around the world. WAO Member Societies and the WAO Centers of Excellence participate locally or regionally. They hold educational events for the public as well as healthcare practitioners, or media events to promote general awareness of the disease topic, or other awareness activities based on local needs. WAO provides resources, hosts an international webinar, and disseminates educational information through various channels.
22 June to 28 June – Stomal Therapy Week
National Stomal Therapy Week (NSTW) is designed to both acknowledge and provide support to people living with a stoma and recognise those health professionals and support agencies involved in their care.
Stomal Therapy Nurses (STN’s) from around Australia are encouraged to recognise, publicise and celebrate this important event by participating in a variety of activities to promote healthier living for people with stomas and raise awareness of the role of the STN.
27 June – International Day of Deafblindness
Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing impairment of such severity that it is hard for the impaired senses to compensate for each other, and is thus a distinct disability with its own specific challenges, barriers and requirements for support and inclusion, different from those provided to individuals, who are solely deaf or blind.
Deafblind persons face barriers owing to deafblindness not being treated and/or recognized as a distinct disability, further leading to invisibility in statistics, policies and programmes, and therefore impeding access to services.
Professional deafblind interpreters and interpreter-guides are critical in ensuring access to information, communication, services and fundamental rights, as well as enabling individuals with deafblindness to live independently and be included in the community.
The General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/294, proclaiming 27 June of each year the International Day of Deafblindness. This day commemorates the birth of renowned author Helen Keller (1880 – 1968), one of the most iconic figures in the deafblindness community.
Helen Keller (left) visited the UN Headquarters in 1949. Miss Keller is seen during a committee meeting with her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson, who is interpreting the debate for her. Credit: UN Photo.
29 June – World Scleroderma Day
On June 29, the world’s scleroderma community comes together to recognize World Scleroderma Day.
On this day in 1940, internationally renowned Swiss painter Paul Klee died. He had scleroderma and his artwork was widely influenced by his experience with the condition.
Across the globe, it is known that the month of June is also recognised, and this is when many fund-raisers and awareness campaigns take place.
July
1 July – Coming of the Light
Every year on the 1st of July Torres Strait Islanders celebrate The Coming of the Light – this commemorates the adoption of Christianity across the islands.
It began on the 1st of July 1871 when the Reverend Samuel MacFarlane of the London Missionary Society anchored at Erub Island and was welcomed on the island.
This day is an island specific public holiday and many Torres Strait Islanders whether they live on the islands or the mainland will come together every year to celebrate this day.
1 July to 31 July – Dry July
Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.
The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment.
Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits, such as sleeping better, having more energy and of course, no hangovers! So you’re not only helping others, you’re helping yourself. It’s a win-win!
5 July to 12 July – National NAIDOC Week
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), 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.
6 July – World Rural Development Day
In a gesture both symbolic and strategic, the General Assembly declared July 6 as World Rural Development Day, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This declaration, steeped in the spirit of international solidarity, acknowledges the deep-rooted challenge of rural poverty and the necessity of addressing it as a precondition for achieving the broader goals of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Drawing from a lineage of global declarations and resolutions—from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda—the resolution seeks to shine a sustained light on the lives and struggles of those who till the soil, harvest the seas, and nurture the land in rural corners of the world.
11 July – World Population Day
World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.
By resolution 45/216 of December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing World Population Day to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development.
The Day was first marked on 11 July 1990 in more than 90 countries. Since then, a number of a number of UNFPA country offices and other organizations and institutions commemorate World Population Day, in partnership with governments and civil society.
12 July – International Day of Hope
In a world facing growing unrest, widening social divisions, and persistent economic and environmental challenges, the global community continues to seek values that unite rather than divide. Among these, hope stands out as a deeply powerful and universally resonant force. Recognizing this, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 12 July as the International Day of Hope—a day to celebrate and promote hope as a guiding principle for individuals, communities, and nations alike.
This resolution draws upon the enduring values of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which call for peace, dignity, tolerance, and shared progress. It builds on earlier UN initiatives—such as the International Day of Conscience—by highlighting the essential role hope plays in promoting well-being, mutual respect, social stability, and sustainable development.
13 July to 19 July – National Diabetes Week
Diabetes Australia is calling on all Australians to support the campaign and help to raise awareness of diabetes during National Diabetes Week. Diabetes Australia wants a healthier future – for everyone.
15 July – World Youth Skills Day
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners. Participants have highlighted the ever-increasing significance of skills as the world is embarking on a transition towards a sustainable model of development.
22 July – World Fragile X Day
World Fragile X Day celebrates families impacted by Fragile X and highlights advances of research to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure.
On World Fragile X Day we shine a light on Fragile X by illuminating monuments and landmarks around the world. We gather with friends and family to celebrate loved ones who shine in the face of Fragile X. FRAXA launched World Fragile X Day in 2021.
As the most common inherited single gene cause of autism, Fragile X is the best key we have to solving autism. Treatments for Fragile X are also likely to help people who have Alzheimer’s or other brain disorders.
25 July – World Drowning Prevention Day
World Drowning Prevention Day, declared in April 2021 by General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/273, is held annually on 25 July. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.
All stakeholders – governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia and individuals – are invited to mark World Drowning Prevention Day by highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and multi-sectoral action on proven measures such as:
– installing barriers controlling access to water
– providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare
– teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills
– training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
– setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations
– improving flood risk management.
26 July to 31 July – National Pain Week
National Pain Week is Australia’s annual awareness event for chronic pain. National Pain Week takes place in the last week of July each year. National Pain Week 2026 will run from 26-31 July 2026.
In 2025, we reached over 7 million Australians through our collective advocacy and awareness activities.
26 July to 2 August – Donate Life Week
DonateLife Week is our national awareness week that takes place in July each year to encourage more Australians to get behind organ and tissue donation.
We know that 4 in 5 Australians say they support donation, but only 1 in 3 are registered to be a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).
Help us spread the word about organ and tissue donation by getting your local sports club, workplace, café, friends, family, and community involved.
28 July – World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public and highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO’s Global hepatitis report of 2017.
The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
Low coverage of testing and treatment is the most important gap to be addressed in order to achieve the global elimination goals by 2030.
30 July – International Day of Friendship
The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.
To mark the International Day of Friendship the UN encourages governments, international organizations and civil society groups to hold events, activities and initiatives that contribute to the efforts of the international community towards promoting a dialogue among civilizations, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.
The International Day of Friendship is an initiative that follows on the proposal made by UNESCO defining the Culture of Peace as a set of values, attitudes and behaviours that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes with a view to solving problems. It was then adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1997.
August
1 August to 7 August – World Breastfeeding Week
Supported by WHO, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners, World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important health promotion strategy. With a different theme each year, it aims to promote the enabling environments that help women to breastfeed – including support in the community and the workplace, with adequate protections in government policies and laws – as well as sharing information on breastfeeding benefits and strategies.
1 August to 31 August – Step Up To Breast Cancer
Every day, 58 people in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 9 people die to this disease.
We’re asking to you to join Step Up to Breast Cancer to walk or run 58km throughout August to raise funds for vital breast cancer research to help save lives.
Because every death is one too many, and research is critical to better understand breast cancer and ultimately save lives lost to this disease.
Will YOU step up to breast cancer?
1 August to 31 August – Tradies National Health Month
Tradies National Health Month (TNHM), established by the APA in 2012, raises awareness of the physical and mental challenges faced by those in trade professions.
From injury prevention and pain management to improving mobility and strength, physiotherapists are uniquely placed to support tradies throughout their careers.
By raising awareness and providing practical resources, Tradies National Health Month strives to improve the health and wellbeing of tradies across Australia.
3 August to 9 August – Dental Health Week
Dental Health Week (DHW) is the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health campaign.
3 August to 9 August – National Stroke Week
National Stroke Week encourages the community to know the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke so that they can save a life.
Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke.
Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:
– Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
– Arms Can they lift both arms?
– Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
– Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.
A stroke is always a medical emergency.
4 August – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is our national day dedicated to celebrating our children and has been held every year on the 4 August since 1988.
Children’s Day gives all Australians the opportunity to show their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and learn about the impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
7 August – Jeans for Genes Day
1 in 20 kids faces a birth defect or genetic disease, like cancer, cystic fibrosis, and life-threatening metabolic disorders. That’s 12 kids born every minute worldwide. Help us find treatments and cures by fundraising for us, making a donation, or buying gear.
9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world’s population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.
Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.
Indigenous peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years. Yet, throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognises that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life.
In order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, chosen in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.
12 August – International Youth Day
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society.
17 August to 21 August – Bullying No Way Week
Bullying No Way Week is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies.
The national week of action unites government, Catholic and independent schools and their communities across the country. Together, we can foster practical approaches to prevent bullying in Australian schools.
17 August to 23 August – Brain Injury Awareness Week
Brain Injury Awareness Week (BIAW) is held annually to raise awareness of brain injury and its impact on everyday Australian’s. This is a time to reflect on how each of us can support and advocate for people living with a brain injury and continue to grow awareness and understanding throughout Australia.
19 August – World Humanitarian Day
On 19 August, we mark World Humanitarian Day — a time to honor those who step into crises to help others, and to stand with the millions of people whose lives hang in the balance.
This year the message is clear: the humanitarian system is stretched to its limits; underfunded, overwhelmed and under attack.
Where bombs fall and disasters strike, humanitarian workers are the ones holding the line keeping people alive, often at great personal risk. But more and more those who help are becoming targets themselves.
On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
20 August – Daffodil Day
On this day, Australians all over the country come together and, for all that cancer takes, we give hope. We give to support people impacted by cancer and we give to support cancer research that will save lives.
We know that almost 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, so it takes all of us to give hope for better treatments and better outcomes. The more hope we give, the more lives we can save. That’s why we’re encouraging you to give it your all by registering to fundraise or by donating this Daffodil Day.
23 August to 29 August – Speech Pathology Week
Speech Pathology Week is the profession’s leading event, raising public awareness of communication and swallowing difficulties and the role of speech pathologists in improving lives. We encourage members to get involved in local and national initiatives to celebrate and promote the profession. We will communicate further with resources and activities to support you.
31 August – International Overdose Awareness Day
Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings a global community together to take action on overdose. Hold an event, spread the message, take action today.
September
1 September to 7 September – Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW)
Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW) is a national week to raise awareness of body image concerns and eating disorders, celebrated annually in the first full week of September (1-7 September 2025).
This #BIEDAW, we’re ‘Unpacking the Why’ to expand understanding of how eating disorders develop and how to access support. Because when we know why, we can provide better support.
1 September to 7 September – Asthma Week
Asthma Week is Asthma Australia’s annual awareness-raising activity held on 1 – 7 September each year, for the more than 2.8 million people with asthma in Australia.
The aim of Asthma Week is to ‘put asthma on the kitchen table of all Australians’ which means to get people talking about asthma with family and friends and to improve awareness of the impact this chronic health condition has on so many lives.
1 September to 30 September – Liptember
Wear bright lippy during September to raise funds and awareness for the 1 in 2 Australian women experiencing mental health issues.
1 September to 8 September – Adult Learners Week
Adult Learners Week is an international celebration of lifelong learning which initially developed in the United States in the late 1980s when there was a move to create a broad celebration of adult learning.
Adult Learners’ Week is now a UNESCO initiative and is celebrated in many countries around the world.
1 September to 30 September – Steptember
Step up for a month-long mood boost with Australia’s favourite workplace challenge made possible by Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Take 10K steps a day, your way, and raise funds for early detection and therapy for babies with cerebral palsy.
From 1–30 September, track your steps (or choose from 40+ activities) on the app or website to get moving. Walking meetings, workplace run club, lunchtime yoga — it all counts!
While you boost your wellbeing, you’ll also support babies with cerebral palsy get the best start in life.
2 September to 3 September – Indigenous Literacy Day
Indigenous Literacy Day aims to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and language. It also is an opportunity to fundraise and advocate for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to have equal access to culturally appropriate literacy resources. The event enlightens and engages primary and early learners in song, stories and language.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation provides books in language, publishes community stories and works to empower remote communities to lead their own literacy journey. Resources are available for promotional purposes, as well as workshops and other events.
4 September – PKD Awareness Day
PKD Awareness Day takes place each year on September 4th and is our day to raise awareness for Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Though PKD affects more than 25 thousand Australians and millions worldwide, many people have never heard of this disease. Together, we can change that! The more people that know about PKD, the closer we can get to additional treatments and a cure!
5 September – International Day of Charity
The International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitising and mobilising people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.
Charity at its core is an expression of global solidarity. It brings people together to build more just and resilient societies, whether through direct giving, volunteering, or collective action. Beyond immediate aid, charity strengthens healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and the protection of vulnerable groups (OECD). Today, charity and philanthropy alike are evolving to address the deeper causes of poverty and inequality.
Charitable efforts now influence public policy, fund innovation, and support communities where public services fall short. In fragile regions, they often fill critical gaps where governments cannot.
The date of 5 September was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”
7 September – World Duchenne Awareness Day
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare progressive disorder. People with DMD are missing muscle-protecting protein. This is due to a fault in the gene producing dystrophin. Muscles to become weaker over time until it affects the whole body. It is caused by a mutation on the X-chromosome, that is why mainly males are affected.
Recognizing that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most common pediatric genetic rare diseases, the General Assembly decided to designate 7 September, the current World Duchenne Awareness Day, as a United Nations Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2024.
The Assembly encouraged stakeholders to actively raise awareness on the specific challenges and needs faced by individuals and families in the rare diseases community through national campaigns, educational programmes and information dissemination, with the goal of fostering greater understanding and empathy towards those affected by rare diseases and promoting global solidarity.
7 September – World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD)
WRAD is a day dedicated to uniting together to highlight the essential role of radiotherapy in treating cancer, relieving symptoms, and improving quality of life for patients.
7 September to 13 September – National Child Protection Week
For over 30 years, NAPCAN has been running the annual NCPW campaign. Each campaign builds on the strengths of previous years and has evolved to provide support to communities to act on the core message, “protecting children is everyone’s business”.
8 September – International Literacy Day
Since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on 8 September around the world to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. It opens the door to the enjoyment of other human rights, greater freedoms, and global citizenship. Literacy is a foundation for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviours to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, diversity and tolerance and to build harmonious relations with oneself, other people and the planet.
8 September – World PT Day
World PT Day is on 8 September every year, and an opportunity for physiotherapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution their profession makes to keeping people well, mobile and independent.
9 September – International FASD Awareness Day
9:09 am on the 9th day of the 9th month is observed every year in recognition of the importance of being alcohol free for the nine months of a pregnancy.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol which can be consumed during pregnancy and it is the responsibility of the whole community to support alcohol free pregnancies. Around the world, the month of September is recognised as FASD month to raise awareness about FASD and the importance of an alcohol free pregnancy.
Community events to mark FASD Awareness Day provide opportunities to raise awareness about the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure, to support pregnant women and to share this prevention message around the world.
10 September – World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). WHO has been co-sponsor of the day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.
10 September – R U OK?Day
R U OK? inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.
You don’t need to be an expert to reach out – just a good friend and a great listener.
Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen.
3. Encourage action.
4. Check in.
13 September – World Sepsis Day
World Sepsis Day is an initiative by the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) and has been established in 2012.
The GSA is a non-profit charity organisation with the mission to provide global leadership to reduce the worldwide burden of sepsis. To find out more about the GSA and the team behind it, please visit the GSA website.
Every year on September 13th, countless events raising awareness of sepsis are organized all over the world. The events range from medical education to information for lay people, sports activities, fundraising events like pink picnics, and much more.
14 September to 20 September – Dementia Action Week
Dementia doesn’t just impact the person living with the condition and their immediate carers; it also impacts their friends, family and wider social network.
People living with dementia tell us that friends and family often drop away, not knowing how to interact with them once they have a diagnosis.
This leads to social isolation and loneliness and can further drive stigma and discrimination. With an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and 1.7 million people involved in their care, chances are you know someone who is impacted by dementia.
This Dementia Action Week we challenge everyone in the community to reach out and reconnect to someone impacted by dementia because nobody can do it alone.
15 September – World Lymphoma Awareness Day
World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD) is held on 15 September every year during Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
It is an initiative led by the Lymphoma Coalition, which we co-founded, and aims to raise public awareness about lymphoma symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment, as well as the wider impacts of living with lymphoma.
16 September – International Day for Interventional Cardiology
Interventional cardio-angiology improves health, increases life expectancy and improves the quality of life.
The first coronary angioplasty was performed by Dr. Andreas Grüntzig on 16 September 1977. Since then angioplasty has been the procedure that has saved the most grams of myocardium at risk worldwide.
In September 2022, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 16 September as International Day for Interventional Cardiology and invited stakeholders to observe annually the International Day for Interventional Cardiology in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities, in order to raise public awareness of cardiovascular diseases and procedures, related complications, as well as prevention and care, including through education and the mass media.
16 September – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
A number of commonly used chemicals have been found to be extremely damaging to the ozone layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked to one or more halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine). Halocarbons containing bromine usually have much higher ozone-depleting potential (ODP) than those containing chlorine. The man-made chemicals that have provided most of the chlorine and bromine for ozone depletion are methyl bromide, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and families of chemicals known as halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114).
17 September – World Patient Safety Day
World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety.
The Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety.
The resolution WHA 72.6 ‘Global action on patient safety’ recognises patient safety as a global health priority and endorses the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be observed annually on 17 September.
20 September – World Cleanup Day
On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted resolution 78/122 “World Cleanup Day”, which proclaims 20 September as World Cleanup Day. The resolution invites all Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organisations, and other relevant stakeholders – including civil society, the private sector and academia – to observe World Cleanup Day through activities aimed at raising awareness of the role clean-up efforts play in sustainable development. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance of the Day.
21 September – International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
23 September – International Day of Sign Languages
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
The resolution establishing the day acknowledges that early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals. It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes the principle of “nothing about us without us” in terms of working with Deaf communities.
25 September – World Pharmacists Day
World Pharmacists Day is a global celebration that recognises the important role of pharmacists in meeting healthcare needs across the world. This year, the Guild is highlighting how community pharmacists delivering expanded services to meet the evolving needs of Australian patients.
29 September – International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction
Cutting food loss and waste reduces poverty and hunger and fights climate change. In terms of climate change, the damage will be reduced taking into account that nowadays, food loss and waste is responsible for about 7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nearly 30% of the world’s agricultural land is currently occupied to produce food that is ultimately never consumed, just to name a few examples.
Considering the world’s growing population, the United Nations (UN) see an urgent need in addressing the large quantities of food lost and wasted around the globe, stressing the risks implied for climate change, agriculture sustainability, human livelihoods, and food supplies. Cutting back on food loss and waste is also stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and specifically Target 12.3, which calls for halving the per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, as well as reducing food losses along production and supply chains.
30 September – International Translation Day
International Translation Day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security.
Transposition of a literary or scientific work, including technical work, from one language into another language, professional translation, including translation proper, interpretation and terminology, is indispensable to preserving clarity, a positive climate and productiveness in international public discourse and interpersonal communication.
Thus, on 24 May 2017, the General Assembly adopted resolution 71/288 on the role of language professionals in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development, and declared 30 September as International Translation Day.
October
1 October – International Day of Older Persons
Rapid growth in the number of people reaching older ages underscores the significance of promoting health, preventing, and treating illnesses throughout the entire course of life.
In societies with aging populations, it becomes imperative to adjust to the increasing number of elderly individuals who possess a diverse range of functional capacities. The capability to carry out essential functions and partake in everyday activities is influenced not solely by an individual’s inherent capacity but also by the social and physical environments in which they reside. Supportive environments play a pivotal role in assisting older individuals to maintain their activity levels and independence as they progress in age.
In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (resolution 46/91). In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.
1 October to 31 October – Great Cycle Challenge
This October, we’re riding to end childhood cancer and save little lives.
Every hill we climb and every kilometre we pedal will be to honour those lives we’ve lost and stand with those brave kids still fighting to survive. These kids won’t give up, and neither will we.
Our goal is to fund life-saving research to develop safer and more effective treatments, and find cures for all childhood cancers.
Because kids should be living life, NOT fighting for it.
1 October to 31 October – International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
October is recognised globally as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. It is a time for families, communities, and healthcare professionals to come together to break the silence surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.
This month holds particular significance for those who have experienced the devastating loss of a baby and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of support, awareness, and education in addressing pregnancy and infant loss.
At the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (Stillbirth CRE), we are dedicated to shining a light on this important issue.
2 October – International Day of Non-Violence
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.
4 October to 11 October – National Amputee Awareness Week
October 4 – 11 is National Amputee Awareness Week, providing an opportunity for the Australian community to recognise, support and celebrate those affected by limb loss.
6 October – World Habitat Day
In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns; its our collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
10 October – World Mental Health Day
The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
12 October to 18 October – National Nutrition week
National Nutrition Week is an annual campaign championed by Nutrition Australia.
Our theme of inspiring a connected and nourished Australia encourages us to slow down, share, and appreciate food – from where it comes from to the enjoyment of eating together.
Food is more than fuel. It’s a story, a tradition, a connection.
12 October to 18 October – National Carers Week
Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer, at any time.
National Carers Week is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.
National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and coordinated with the assistance and participation of the National Carer Network.
12 October to 18 October – OCD Awareness Week
OCD Awareness Week (#OCDweek) is a worldwide event that serves to dispel myths about obsessive compulsive disorder, break the stigma around mental illness, and provide education about the disorder and how to support those affected. For the over 200 million people worldwide living with OCD, public misconception can prevent them from accessing the timely, effective treatment they need to move from suffering to thriving. This #OCDweek, whether you share facts, tell your own story, or otherwise support OCD Awareness Week, you are making a powerful difference.
13 October – International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.
Sudden onset disasters displace millions of people every year. Disasters, many of which are exacerbated by climate change, have a negative impact on investment in sustainable development and the desired outcomes.
It is also at the local level that capacities need to be strengthened urgently.
14 October – Allied Health Professions Day
Allied Health Professions Day was first held in England in 2018 and is now an international event held annually on 14 October, celebrating and bringing together the allied health professional community.
16 October – World Food Day
World Food Day is calling for global collaboration in creating a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous, and food-secure future. By working together, across governments, organisations, sectors, and communities, we can transform agrifood systems to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy diet, living in harmony with the planet.
16 October – Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Day
Developmental Language Disorder is a hidden but common disability that affects 1 in 14 people causing difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason.
The new terminology of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) was launched in 2017 and our first DLD Awareness Day quickly followed. Each year is becoming bigger and better thanks to the support of people from all around the world.
17 October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
In a world characterised by an unprecedented level of economic development, technological means and financial resources, that millions of persons are living in extreme poverty is a moral outrage.
Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity.
Persons living in poverty experience many interrelated and mutually reinforcing deprivations that prevent them from realizing their rights and perpetuate their poverty, including:
– dangerous work conditions
– unsafe housing
– lack of nutritious food
– unequal access to justice
– lack of political power
– limited access to health care.
Building a sustainable future requires us to intensify our efforts towards eradicating extreme poverty and discrimination, and ensuring that everyone can fully exercise their human rights. The full participation of people living in poverty, particularly in the decisions that affect their lives and communities, must be at the centre of policies and strategies to build a sustainable future. In this way, we can guarantee that our planet and our societies can fulfil the needs and aspirations of everyone – not only those of a privileged few – for this and future generations.
18 October – World Menopause Day
Let’s normalise menopause talk — because when we talk, share and listen, we change the conversation.
19 October to 25 October – Infection Prevention and Control Week
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Week is held during the third week of October each year to highlight the importance of preventing infections.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Week aims to promote better infection prevention and control practices in health care and to recognise the efforts of all healthcare workers to reduce the risk of infection in health services.
Everyone has a role in the prevention and control of infections in health care. Simple actions, such as cleaning shared patient equipment between each use and hand hygiene, can make big difference.
20 October – World Osteoporosis Day
October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day. Join Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation and organisations across the globe in raising awareness and sharing resources to promote better bone health!
21 October – International Pronouns Day
International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.
24 October to 1 November – Children’s Week
Children’s Week is a national event held annually around the fourth Wednesday in October, promoting awareness of children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Led by the Children’s Week Council of Australia, the week encourages national participation and supports children to be seen, heard, and celebrated in every community.
27 October – World Occupational Therapy Day
Occupational Therapy Day was first launched on 27th October 2010. Since then, it has become an important date in the occupational therapy calendar to promote and celebrate the profession internationally.
29 October – International Day of Care and Support
Mindful of the need to invest in the care economy and to create robust, resilient and gender-responsive, disability-inclusive and age-sensitive care and support systems with full respect for human rights with a view to recognizing, reducing, valuing and redistributing unpaid care and domestic work and support, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 29 October as International Day of Care and Support.
The Assembly invited stakeholders to observe the International Day of Care and Support on an annual basis in an appropriate manner in order to raise awareness of the importance of care and support and its key contribution to the achievement of gender equality and the sustainability of our societies and economies, as well as of the need to invest in a resilient and inclusive care economy, including the development of strong and resilient care and support systems.
30 October – Day for Daniel
Held annually on the last Friday of October, Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness event.
This special day honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe and reinforces the vital message that keeping kids safe is a responsibility we all share—parents, carers, educators, businesses…the entire community.
We invite schools, early learning centres, and businesses and individuals to register and participate in Day for Daniel, helping to spread this crucial message and empower children with personal safety education.
30 October – Pink Ribbon Breakfast
Host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast on Thursday 30 October (or any day that suits you) to support vital breast cancer research.
Your entry is FREE and you’ll receive a free host kit!
You can choose to host a breakfast, morning/afternoon tea, brunch or lunch from the comfort of your own home, at work, in your local centre or hospitality venue.
Join us now to raise funds to support the 58 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
Together, we can help stop deaths from breast cancer.
November
1 November to 30 November – Swim for Breast Cancer
We’re asking to you to join Swim For Breast Cancer to swim 9km throughout November to raise funds for world-class breast cancer research to help save lives.
Because every death is one too many, and research is critical to better understand, prevent, detect, treat and stop breast cancer from taking the lives of the people we love.
Will YOU make a splash to save lives?
1 November to 30 November – Shine a Light on Lung Cancer
Every November, Shine a Light on Lung Cancer brings Australians together to raise awareness and funds for life-changing lung cancer research and support. Whether you’re joining a community walk or creating your own fundraiser, every step and every dollar gives hope to those impacted by lung cancer.
4 November – International Pathology Day
International Pathology Day is an annual awareness day which is dedicated to highlighting the pivotal role pathology plays in healthcare, and our overall health and wellbeing.
10 November – International Week of Science and Peace
The annual observance of the International Week of Science and Peace is making an important contribution to the promotion of peace. The Week encourages greater academic exchanges on a subject of universal importance while also generating greater awareness of the relationship of science and peace among the general public. Based on observances of Science and Peace Week to date, it may be expected that participation each year will increase, contributing to greater international understanding and opportunities for co-operation in the applications of science for the promotion of peace throughout the year.
14 November – World Diabetes Day
Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.
In 2007 General Assembly adopted resolution 61/225 designating 14 November as World Diabetes Day. The document recognized “the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care education.”
The resolution also encouraged Member States to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their health-care systems.
15 November – World Prematurity Day
World Prematurity Day is a global moment to raise awareness of the challenges and impact of preterm birth. The day shines a spotlight on the urgent need to improve care for babies born too soon while providing practical and emotional support for their families.
16 November to 22 November – National Skin Cancer Action Week
It’s still the same sun. We’re encouraging all Australians to use sun protection when the UV is 3 or above to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.
16 November – International Day for Tolerance
In 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming 16 November as International Day for Tolerance.
This action followed the adoption of a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by UNESCO’s Member States on 16 November 1995. Among other things, the Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.
17 November – World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day
Since 2020, WHO has joined advocates around the world on 17 November to highlight the importance of efforts in support of the elimination of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women. The day highlights progress toward achieving the 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination and ongoing efforts to ensure all girls and women can access prevention, screening, and treatment.
The date marks the day when WHO launched the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, with a resolution passed by 194 countries.
18 November to 24 November – World AMR Awareness Week
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.
18 November – World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a violation of human rights and a public health problem with significant consequences for global health and development.
Affirming the need to eliminate and prevent all forms of child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence and to promote the dignity and rights, including mental and physical health and healing, of those who experience child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, on 7 November 2022, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/8, proclaiming 18 November of each year as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.
18 November – World COPD Day
World COPD Day, observed annually on the third Wednesday of November, is a global event aimed at raising awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its prevention, and the importance of early diagnosis and effective management.
Organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), the day unites patients, healthcare professionals, and organisations to advocate for improved lung health.
World COPD Day focuses on reducing the impact of this progressive and preventable disease by promoting awareness of risk factors, such as smoking and air pollution, and encouraging timely access to treatment and support.
19 November – World Toilet Day
In a changing world, one thing is constant: we’ll always need the toilet.
No matter what lies ahead, we will always rely on sanitation to protect us from diseases and keep our environment clean.
Today, billions of people still live without a safe toilet, with the poorest, especially women and girls, worst affected.
As time goes by, the pressure on sanitation is only increasing. Across the world, ageing infrastructure is failing. Investment hasn’t kept pace with demand. And climate change is reshaping our world – with glaciers melting, weather worsening, and sea levels rising.
Together, we must ensure toilets are:
– accessible to all
– resilient to floods, droughts and other climate shocks
– minimise greenhouse gas emissions
– supported by strong systems and sustained investment.
Access to sanitation is a human right – fundamental to a healthy, dignified, productive life.
20 November – World Children’s Day
World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20. Around the world, children are standing up and talking about their lives, their hopes and their rights.
It’s time to listen to children. To understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing, or pursued every day.
21 November to 28 November – Social Inclusion Week
Social Inclusion Week aims to help all Australians feel included and valued, giving everyone the opportunity to participate fully in society.
Created by Jonathon Welch AM, founder of the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks, Social Inclusion Week is about connecting local communities, workmates, family and friends, in order to build and strengthen relationships or networks and address isolation and exclusion of those who may be marginalised.
23 November to 29 November – Perinatal Mental Health Week
1 in 5 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety. That’s around 100,000 Australian parents each year.
Real people share their stories of perinatal mental health challenges. These stories are a reminder to all parents that you are not alone.
25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. Even more devastating is the fact that one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by their intimate partner or family.
On 7 February 2000, the General Assembly adopts resolution 54/134, officially designating 25 November as the International day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and in doing so, inviting governments, international organizations as well as NGOs to join together and organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the issue every year on that date.
25 November to 10 December – 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, followed by the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, is a global moment to help #EndViolence against women and girls. Preventing this violence is possible, but only if we act together, now.
WHO and HRP, the UN Special Programme on Human Reproduction, play a key role in bringing attention to and responding to violence against women as a public health, gender equality and human rights issue, including in humanitarian settings, by building evidence, developing guidelines, encouraging political will and accountability, and improving related health services.
December
1 December – World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is celebrated around the world on December 1st each year. It has become one of the most recognised international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories, such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.
1 December to 31 December – Decembeard Australia
A hair–raising fundraiser held during the month of December, Decembeard Australia encourages men to grow or challenge their beard in the final month of the year to raise awareness and much needed funds for Bowel Cancer Australia.
Beards aren’t just for hipsters, grandpas, men that ride motorbikes or people that are too lazy to shave. Anyone can participate and help make real change happen.
1 December to 7 December – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week – (ATSIHAW)
Each year in the first week of December, to coincide with World AIDS Day, we host Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week – ATSIHAW.
The inaugural ATSIHAW was held in November 2014 to get a conversation going in our community about HIV prevention and the importance of regular testing for HIV. The theme of ATSIHAW is ‘U AND ME CAN STOP HIV’
ATSIHAW has proven itself to be a popular event – engaging our communities, as well as HIV researchers, doctors, health workers and policy-makers. Each year ATSIHAW events that aim to promote awareness of HIV are run in local community based organisations.
3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Today, the world population is over 8 billion people and more than one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability; 80 per cent live in developing countries.
Persons with disabilities, “the world’s largest minority”, have generally poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is largely due to the lack of services available to them (like information and communications technology (ICT), justice or transportation) and the many obstacles they face in their everyday lives. These obstacles can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment, or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination.
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
5 December – International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day is a chance for individual volunteers, communities and organizations to promote their contributions to development at the local, national and international levels. By combining UN support with a grassroots mandate, International Volunteer Day is a unique opportunity for people and volunteer-involving organizations to work with government agencies, non-profit institutions, community groups, academia and the private sector.
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on 5 December.
5 December – World Soil Day
Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link with soil. Over 95 percent of our food comes from soils. Besides, they supply 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants.
However, in the face of climate change and human activity, our soils are being degraded. Erosion disrupts the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life, and decreasing the level of vitamins and nutrients in food.
Sustainable soil management practices, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage. They also preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
10 December – Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines 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.
12 December – International Universal Health Coverage Day
International Universal Health Coverage Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners. Each year on 12 December, UHC advocates raise their voices to share the stories of the millions of people still waiting for health, champion what we have achieved so far, call on leaders to make bigger and smarter investments in health, and encourage diverse groups to make commitments to help move the world closer to UHC by 2030.
To promote physical and mental health and well-being, and to extend life expectancy for all, we must achieve universal health coverage and access to quality health care. We must leave no one behind.
18 December – International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It’s also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity.
20 December – International Human Solidarity Day
International Human Solidarity Day (20 December) is an opportunity to reaffirm a simple truth: our shared future depends on how well we act together. Solidarity is woven through the United Nations Charter and the Organisation’s daily work, uniting countries and communities to advance peace, human rights, and social and economic development.
21 December – World Meditation Day
Meditation is an ancient practice that involves focusing one’s attention on the present moment. Rooted in religious, yogic, and secular traditions across cultures, meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, it is embraced worldwide, transcending its spiritual origins to become a universal tool for personal well-being and mental health.
To raise awareness about meditation and its benefits, the General Assembly proclaimed 21 December as World Meditation Day, recalling the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
27 December – International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
The United Nations system, in particular the World Health Organisation, plays a pivotal role in coordinating responses to epidemics, in accordance with its mandate, and in supporting national, regional and international efforts to prevent, mitigate and address the impacts of infectious diseases and epidemics in accordance with the goal of advancing the 2030 Agenda.
We need to recognise the primary role and responsibility of Governments and the indispensable contribution of relevant stakeholders in tackling global health challenges, especially women, who make up the majority of the world’s health workers.
International cooperation and multilateralism play an important role in the response to epidemics. We need to stress the significance of partnership and solidarity among every individual, community and State, and regional and international organizations, in all stages of epidemic management, as well as the importance of considering a gender perspective in this regard.
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