National Families Week

Each year, tens of thousands of people and hundreds of organisations celebrate National Families Week - Australia's annual celebration of families.

National Families Week is timed to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Families on 15 May. This day is observed by the United Nations to mark the importance that the international community places on families as the most fundamental units of society, as well as to draw attention to the plight of families in many parts of the world.

National Families Week 2008

Event registration has closed for 2008. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list for 2009, please email us.

National Families Week 2008 will be held between 11-17 May 2008. The theme for the Week is 'Work and Family - getting the balance right' which reflects the importance of encouraging Australians, particularly working parents, to find ways to more effectively balance work and family life.

All Australians, including community organisations, schools, councils, companies and individuals are invited to participate in National Families Week this year.

Further information is available here.

National Families Week 2007

National Families Week 2007 (13-19 May) set a record in terms of participation across Australia. Over 110,000 people participated in 1,000 events which were run by 750 organisations and their subsidiaries. Twenty-four high profile National Families Week Ambassadors, including Senior Australian of the Year, Phil Herreen, Young Australian of the Year, Tania Major, leading Australian businesswoman, Wendy McCarthy AO, and youth advocate Barbara Holborrow OAM, promoted the theme of ‘FITT Families ­ Families Investing in Time Together’. more information on National Families Week 2007

National Families Week 2006

More than 105,000 people participated in events across Australia, a 25% increase compared with 2005. 550 events organised by 389 community, government and other service organisations were held (representing increases compared with the previous year of 22% and 25%, respectively), the overwhelming majority of which were held at a grassroots level in local communities. more information on National Families Week 2006