Due to the high demand for space, the Our Community calendar is used only for nationally significant events. Submissions for the calendar should be sent to service@ourcommunity.com.au.
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604 community events listed
NSW Seniors Festival
The Department of Family and Community Services NSW
NSW Seniors Festival is the largest festival for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere, reaching up to 500,000 seniors each year.
If you are over 60, NSW Seniors Festival gives you the chance to make new friends or get together with old ones at an array of local community events, many which are free or heavily discounted.
NSW
NSW Seniors Festival project team
Locked Bag 4001
ASHFIELD BC NSW 1800
Locked Bag 4001
ASHFIELD BC NSW 1800
Passover
Probably the best known Jewish holiday, Passover commemorates the story of the exodus, where the Israelites were freed from Egyptian slavery.
International
National Advance Care Planning Week
Advance Care Planning Australia
Advance care planning is invaluable because it ensures your voice is heard if medical decisions have to be made for you. Having a plan means your friends, family and doctors aren't guessing what's important to you or what an acceptable outcome is for your life.
Get the conversation started in your community during National Advance Care Planning Week by hosting or attending a local event.
National
Adopt a Greyhound Month
Greyhounds are very gentle dogs, but unfortunately the racing industry breeds far too many every year. They are exploited and mistreated by the racing industry which only has use for them while they run profitably.
If the greyhound is not profitable it is most likely killed. It is a sad fact that only a fraction of the approximately 20,000 greyhounds bred each year is alive to be re-homed.
Greyhounds need little exercise and generally spend about 18 hours a day sleeping, making them very suitable for people little in apartments.
Greyhounds need little exercise and generally spend about 18 hours a day sleeping, making them very suitable for people little in apartments.
International
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) originated in the USA in the 1980s as a week-long awareness raising event. SAAM is now an internationally recognised campaign held every April.
International
Adenomyosis Awareness Month
QENDO
April is #AdenomyosisAwarenessMonth. Adenomyosis is a disease of the uterus, and it can cause debilitating pain and severe menstrual bleeding for some women. Help raise awareness of this debilitating disease, and minimally invasive treatment.
International
1800 367 96636
PO Box 336
STONES CORNER QLD 4120
STONES CORNER QLD 4120
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parkinson's Australia
Parkinson's Australia is the national peak body and charity representing more than 80,000 Australians living with Parkinson's. Parkinson' Australia advocates for the Parkinson's community, promotes best practice models of service delivery, works to increase awareness of Parkinson's and provides information and education on Parkinson's symptoms, diagnosis, causes and treatments.
VIC
02 6180 2817
Unit 8, 2 Phippes Close
DEAKIN ACT 2600
DEAKIN ACT 2600
Leo Club Awareness Month
April is Leo Club Awareness Month - an opportunity for Leos and Lions to raise awareness about the importance of engaging young people in the community through the Leo Club Program.
Go Blue for Autism
Autism QLD
Each year on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, iconic buildings across Australia and the world turn their lights blue to promote autism awareness. In support of this global initiative, Autism Queensland asks people Go Blue for the month of April to help raise awareness and funds to help us support Queenslanders of all ages living with ASD and their families.
National
07 3273 0000
Good Friday Appeal
The Good Friday Appeal is a unique fundraising activity that brings together people from all parts of the community in a very special way. The common goal is to raise money for The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
World Autism Awareness Day
United Nations
Autism, a developmental disability, is a lifelong disorder that impairs social interaction, communication and behaviour. World Autism Awareness Day aims to increase understanding of the disability.
International
Good Friday
Good Friday is a religious holiday primarily observed by Christians commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
Be alarmed! Change your smoke alarm battery
Working smoke alarms provide vital early warning in the event of a fire. When people are asleep, they can't smell smoke. Smoke alarms are essential to wake people if a fire breaks out; they give occupants early warning and time to evacuate safely.
National
World Stray Animals Day
The Day for Compassion, Care, and Action for Stray Animals Worldwide.
April 4 is the worldwide celebrated day to give special attention to the 600.000.000 stray animals in the world.
Dogs and cats should have a home. But stray dogs and stray cats don't. They lead poor and miserable lives on the streets, often illfed, suffering extreme heat, cold, and diseases, even more often being chased around by hostile and violent civilians and authorities.
But we, as people who care about animals, can do something.
International
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
United Nations
This is a day intended to draw attention to the plight of mine survivors and the gradual reduction in new casualties since the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty entered into force in 1999.
International
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.
International
World Health Day
United Nations
World Health Day is a commemoration of the founding of the World Health Organisation. It functions as an opportunity to focus on health issues that affect the international community.
International
Day of Rememberance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide
United Nations
This day commemorates the deaths of 800,000 people who were murdered during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, central Africa.
International
Run for the Kids
Herald Sun/CityLink
Herald Sun / CityLink Run for the Kids will see people run or walk set courses - all people participating in this event play a part in raising money for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
VIC
03 9292 2901
Riot Grrrl Day
April 9 is Riot Grrrl Day, in honor of Bikini Kill/The Julie Ruin/Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna. Riot grrrl is an underground feminist hardcore punk movement that originally started in the early 1990s and served as an inspiration for a musical movement in which women could express themselves in the same way men had been doing for the past several years.
Cycle of Giving/Tour de Brisbane
The Common Good
Every year The Common Good hosts the Cycle of Giving; a cycling event to raise funds for organ transplant research. The Prince Charles Hospital is one of the leading organ and tissue transplant facilities in Australia, and every dollar raised through the Cycle of Giving goes to supporting cutting edge organ transplant research at the facility.
Cycle of Giving has joined forces with Tour de Brisbane to introduce a broader rider population to the need to fund more organ transplant research.
QLD
World Parkinson's Day
World Parkinson's Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition, while also raising funds to continue research into a possible cure. Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure. Twenty-five Australians are diagnosed every day, with approximately 80,000 Australians currently living with the condition.
International
International Day of Human Space Flight
United Nations
12 April 1961 was the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. The General Assembly expressed its deep conviction of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived there from.
International
Undiagnosed Children's Awareness Day
Syndromes without a name (SWAN) Inc
According to current estimates, 1 in 20 children are born with a genetic disorder, yet we only hear about the most common syndromes, or the ones that receive the most funding or have the biggest lobby groups. Of those children who present to geneticists with syndromic features, 60% may not ever receive a diagnosis.
National
Ramadan - Islam
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.
International
Baisakhi - Sikh
The harvest festival of North India, the beginning of the solar year. For Sikhs, it represents the founding of the Khalsa, a Sikh brotherhood. Baisakhi always falls on 13th or 14th April and this is also the Hindu New Year for North India.
International
National LSVRO Prevention Awaress Day
Georgina Josephine Foundation
The Foundation supports families directly affected by Low Speed Vehicle Run Over (LSVRO) incidents. The National LSVRO Prevention Awaress Day promotes the advocacy and educational work of the Georgina Josephina Foundation, and the support of families affected by LSVRO. Prevention is through simple measures - Supervise, Separate, See!
National
Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD)
National Youth Coalition for Housing
Youth Homelessness Matters Day aims to raise awareness and public discussion about youth homelessness so that we can develop sustainable and innovative solutions for not only supporting the needs of homeless youth, but supporting the dreams of homeless youth.
World Haemophilia Day
Haemophilia Foundation Australia
World Haemophilia day raises awareness of the inherited bleeding disorder.
World Heritage Day
World Heritage Day is an opportunity to appreciate heritage monuments and sites for the international community. The day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.
The National Trust Heritage Festival
The National Trust
Celebrate our nation's multicultural makeup with 1500 events across Australia during April.
Meet Us On the Street: Anti-Street Harassment Week
Meet Us On the Street: International Anti-Street Harassment Week is an opportunity to collectively raise awareness that street harassment happens and that it's not okay.
World Creativity & Innovation Day
Each year International Creativity and Innovation Day is a celebration of new ideas, imagination and anything that has made the world a better place.
International
Earth Day
Earth Day Network
Earth Day is a celebration of the environment we all share. It also acts as a day of conservation awareness.
International Mother Earth Day
United Nations
The proclamation of 22 April as International Mother Earth Day is an acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems provide its inhabitants with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.
World Book and Copyright Day
United Nations
Celebrated on a day when many great authors have died, including Shakespeare, World Book and Copyright Day is a world-wide tribute to books and authors. It also encourages people to discover or rediscover the pleasure of reading.
World YWCA Day
YWCA Victoria
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) celebrates women's leadership and acknowledge their own part in a global movement of women working for justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment.
Nature Play Week
Kids in Nature Network
Nature Play Week celebrates initiatives of all shapes and sizes that reconnect kids with nature and the outdoors.
The week is filled with over 40 Nature Play experiences for kids and their families facilitated by dozens of wonderful local organisations, parents and schools across Victoria, and beyond.
Anzac Day
ANZAC Day is more than a commemoration of the day ANZAC troops landed on the beach at Gallipoli in 1915, it is a day of remembrance for all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
World Penguin Day
A celebration of one of the world's most beloved creatures and a call to action for their conservation.
International
World Malaria Day
United Nations
World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th session in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the global effort to provide effective control of malaria. It is an opportunity:
International
Heart Week
Heart Foundation
Each year the Heart Foundation uses Heart Week as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the problem of heart disease and to help improve the heart health of all Australians.
National
World Intellectual Property Day
United Nations
World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact daily life. It also aims to increase understanding of how intellectual property protection helps promote creativity and innovation.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
United Nations
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is held on 28 April and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.
28 April has also for long been associated with the world's trade union movement's commemoration of the victims of occupational accidents and diseases.
Pay it Forward Day
Based on a concept from a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, Pay It Forward Day urges people around the world to commit random acts of kindness. It is a day to do good deeds, and instruct the recipient of your good deed to 'pay it forward', and return the good deed to another person.
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
The Chase and Tyler Foundation
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is Australia's national awareness week dedicated to raising consumer awareness on gas and fuel-burning appliance safety and preventative methods people can use to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
With numerous stakeholders coming together for this year's CO Awareness Week, the message about the dangers of CO will again be heard again throughout Australia via a range of events, media and other distribution channels.
The Chase and Tyler Foundation is a not-for-profit charity that raises awareness on gas and fuel-burning appliance safety, carbon monoxide poisoning prevention and energy poverty. We do this via education, awareness, advocacy, research and services.
National
International Guide Dog Day
Guide Dogs Victoria
International Guide Dog Day is a day to celebrate the important role that guide dogs play in helping the blind and vision impaired enjoy safe and independent travel.
International Jazz Day
United Nations
In November 2011, the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as "International Jazz Day". The Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engaged in the promotion of jazz music will embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation not only for the music but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies.
International
Email Debt Forgiveness Day
It's easy to forget, to delay, to decide it takes too long to sit down and write down whole sentences of thought in our multi-platform, hyper-distracted culture. But Email Debt Forgiveness day is an awesome motivation to catch up on those emails you've meant to send or are anxiously avoiding.
Together, we can all make our inboxes less stressful for another year.
Beltane
Beltane was a traditional Gaelic harvest festival, and was popularised as the 'Celtic new year.' It traditionally marked the beginning of summer.
International
Play Outside Day
Australian Conservation Foundation
Many of us don't get out into nature much. We're too busy, plugged in to screens and rushing through our busy lives. But nature is crucial to our health and wellbeing - and to the health of our planet.
Nature is our life support system. It underpins our communities, our economy and our livelihoods. We all need clean air and healthy rivers, yet our politicians seem determined to exploit and damage the environment. But when nature is diminished, so are we.
That's why we're holding Play Outside Day. Let's reclaim nature and grow our connection with each other and the places we love!
National
Kiss Goodbye to MS
MS Australia
Wear red lipstick and help kiss goodbe to MS.
Throughout May you can get involved in Kiss Goodbye to MS events and activities taking place across the country. By taking part you will be helping support people with MS through funding vital research into the cause, cure and better treatments for the disease. Our vision is to create a world free of MS.
We'll Make a Change
CPL - Choice, Passion Life
The We'll Make A Change Trek will see you and your team choose one of two distances - 9km or 17km - and trek through Brisbane's beautiful D'Aguilar National Park.
Sydney to Surfers
Rotary Club of Engadine
Sydney to Surfers Charity Ride - raising much needed funds for Father Chris Riley's Youth off the Streets.
National
National Youth Week
National Youth Week is an annual, weeklong celebration of young people (12 to 25) throughout Australia. National Youth Week encourages youths to share ideas, attend events, discuss youth issues, showcase their talents and even have a bit of fun.
IAIM One-in-Five Challenge
International Association of Infant Massage
One in Five... is the number of Australian two-year olds who have already developed identifiable, clinical and serious indicators of mental health difficulties. That's around 200,000 babies and young toddlers every year who are facing mental health issues, before even starting pre-school. The IAIM invite you to participate in the One-in-Five Challenge to help reduce this number, and to give all babies and children a better shot at life-long mental health.
65 Roses
Cystic Fibrosis Federation Australia
The National Cystic Fibrosis 65 Roses Campaign is hosted during the month of May. Each year the National Office in conjunction with its State and Territory associations host many awareness initiatives and fundraising events through May.
For the last couple of years we have encouraged people to participate in a challenge themed around the number 65. Supporters have embraced this concept with many wonderful ideas for challenges.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held during May each year to raise community awareness and promote a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated in our communities.
National
Mindful in May
Mindful in May
Mindful in May brings the benefits of meditation together with an opportunity to help bring clean water to those living in the developing world. Your donation and fundraising will be used by Charity Water in its mission to solve the water crisis. When you register and donate, you'll receive a one-moth meditation program.
National
Mercy May
Mercy Ships Australia
This May, join with Mercy Ships to help women in Africa by hosting a Mercy May event. Helping is easier than you think! Just get your friends together for a good time and raise money for a great cause in the process. There are so many ideas for the kind of Mercy May event you can hold. All you have to do is pick one.
Supermarket Free Month
Go Supermarket Free this Mayl to support local business, farmers and suppliers. Change your habits and buy local!
National
Miracle Month of May
Miracle Babies Foundation
To raise awareness and funds for premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.
National
Crohns & Colitis Awareness Month
Crohn's and Colitis Australia (CCA)
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month aims to bring attention to Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome, which affects more than 5 million people.
Dine With Heart Month
Sacred Heart Mission
EAT GOOD. DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. Victoria's homelessness crisis now affects almost 23,000 people. Throughout May, participating restaurants, cafes and bars join will forces with diners to raise money to support Sacred Heart Mission's Meals Program, which provides hearty, free meals every day for up to 400 people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social isolation.
National
International Respect for Chickens Month
United Poultry Concerns
May is International Respect for Chickens Month celebrating chickens and protesting the bleakness of their lives in farming operations.
International
Art for Epilepsy
Epilepsy Action Australia
Art for Epilepsy brings together the talented Australian artists in support of those impacted by epilepsy in an online auction. A broad range of artists take part to provide something to suit all tastes and budgets. Each work contains the colour purple, the internationally recognised colour for epilepsy, and are auctioned off through our website. Grab yourself an original piece of art for a great cause!
National
Ehlers-Danlos Awareness Month
The Ehlers-Danlos Society
The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a collection of thirteen multi-systemic, heritable disorders affecting connective tissue, the most abundant tissues in the body. With the exception of the hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, each type is a distinct entity defined by mutations in a single or small set of genes. Common features among the types include joint hypermobility, skin fragility, chronic pain, and fatigue. More severe types, such as Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can be life-threatening, as fragile blood vessels and internal organs can spontaneously rupture.
For more information, go to ehlers-danlos.com
Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association Victoria
Prader-Willi syndrome is a lifelong condition and although lots of research is being carried out, to date there is no cure. There are no known reasons for the genetic accident that causes this condition, but we are learning more about PWS everyday, and there is hope. Hope that, through increased knowledge, we can help all people with this condition to live a fuller life despite their limitations.
Throughout May, we aim to raise awareness of Prader-Willi Syndrome to help boost the possibility of finding a cure.
International
0451 797 284
Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month
The aim of Neurofibromatosis Month is to provide information to the community and to healthcare and educational professionals, so that they will better understand what Neurofibromatosis (NF) is. This will enable them to accept and provide support to those affected by NF.
The Bloody Long Walk
Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
A 35km challenge in Melbourne to raise funds to find a cure for Mitochondrial disease (mito) - a debilitating genetic disorder that robs the body's cells of energy, causing multiple organ dysfunction or failure and potentially death.
National
Starlight Day
Starlight Children's Foundation
Since being formed as an Australian children's charity in 1988, the Starlight Children's Foundation has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, throughout Australia.
On May 2, Starlight need your help to raise money for sick kids.
International Composting Awareness Week
Centre for Organic & Resource Enterprises (CORE)
International Composting Awareness Week is a week of activities, events and publicity to improve awareness about the importance of this valuable organic resource and to promote compost use, knowledge and products.
International
World Press Freedom Day
United Nations
World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to:
- celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
- assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
- defend the media from attacks on their independence;
- pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
International
Ride to Cure Diabetes
JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
The Ride to Cure Diabetes creates a great opportunity to raise awareness and funds for type 1 diabetes.
Held in the Barossa Valley, Riders choose to challenge themselves on one of three professionally run courses of 35km, 80km or 160km. Some people come for the day while others stay for the weekend commemorating their great achievements with superb food and wine and fantastic accommodation.
SA
National Family Day Care Week
Family Day Care Australia
National Family Day Care Week offers a chance for the family day care sector to unite and celebrate the amazing work of educators and approved services in shaping the lives of more than 142,400 children around the country.
National
UN Global Road Safety Week
United Nations
Particularly targeted at young drivers, Road Safety Week aims to increase awareness of the dangers present on the roads.
International
International Respect for Chickens Day
They are the closest living relative of the tyrannosaurus rex and they outnumber humans on this earth by more than 6 to 1. Yet for the 43 billion chickens on this planet, so few are ever seen. Described as inquisitive, intelligent, affectionate and fun loving, these creatures have their special day on May 4th, which is International Respect for Chickens Day!
International
World Asthma Day
National Asthma Council Australia
World Asthma Day (WAD) takes place each year on the first Tuesday in May. Initiated by the Global Initiative for Asthma in 1998, the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) embraces WAD and marks the occasion to highlight the need for ongoing care and vigilance in managing asthma.
International
International Star Wars Day
May 4 is called Star Wars Day because of the popularity of a common pun spoken on this day. Since the phrase "May the Force be with you" is a famous quote often spoken in the Star Wars films, fans commonly say "May the fourth be with you" on this day.
International
Shine a Light on Road Safety
Road Trauma Support Services
Victorian drivers are being urged to turn on their headlights as a simple, free and highly visible gesture, to remember those impacted by road trauma and show their commitment to road safety.
VIC
International Midwives Day
May 5 is the International Day of the Midwife. The aim of the day is to celebrate the importance of midwifery.
International
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week
Tourette Syndrome Association of Vic.
The aim of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week is to spread knowledge of what Tourettes is, as well as ask for understanding and acceptance in the community and to undo the social stigma created by misinformation.
National