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Families

Council aims to assist families with a range of family focused programs such as library services, child care & family support services, playground and park facilities, aged care services, and cultural programs.

Welcoming Babies Ceremony

The Welcoming Babies ceremony gives new parents the opportunity to have their baby officially welcomed to the community. Participants get an official welcoming certificate, a native plant and a gift bag full of baby goodies.

The next Welcoming Babies Ceremony will be held on Saturday 9 November 2024, in conjunction with the NQ Babies and Kids Expo Townsville.

All sessions for this ceremony are fully booked. Please join our waitlist to register your interest for the next Welcoming Babies Ceremony.

Welcome Baby to Country

Presented by The Welcome Baby To Country Sub-Committee.

Do you have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bubba in your family that you would like to have ‘Welcomed to Country’?

The ceremony recognises Bindal and Wulgurukaba Traditional Owners on the country we live on and invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bubba’s aged newborn to 2 years in Townsville to participate. This includes  Bindal and Wulgurukaba Traditional Owners born on or off Country, and Traditional Owners from other areas born on Bindal and Wulgurukaba Country.

Each Bubba will receive a personalised certificate and a gift to celebrate the event.

Registrations have now closed.

Welcoming a new baby into an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is a cultural practice that involves men, women and extended families. For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have held ceremonies that acknowledge those infant’s connection to the lands on which they were born, and that these practices are diverse and unique to each community across Australia. 

First 1000 Days Australia recognises the importance of Welcome Baby to Country Ceremonies towards meeting the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and connecting children to community, country and Elders.