Back to School Day 2026

Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation’s annual Back to School Day has grown into a key community event, supporting local families and ensuring our young mob are prepared, confident, and ready for the school year ahead. Since its early beginnings in 2024, the event has continued to expand each year reflecting both increasing community need and the strength of collaboration across the region.

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2024

The first Back to School Day in 2024 supported 38 students and marked the beginning of what has become an important annual initiative. With one hairdresser and a small number of service stalls, the focus was on providing essential school supplies and creating a welcoming space for families to connect. While modest in size, the event demonstrated the clear value of practical support combined with community engagement.

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2025

In 2025, the event experienced significant growth, welcoming 127 community members, including over 70 children from Heywood, Hamilton, and Portland. Families accessed take-home school packs, free haircuts, and a range of fun and engaging activities.

A standout highlight was the colour run hosted by the Winda-Mara Health Team, which promoted physical activity and wellbeing in a fun, inclusive way. Entry surveys collected on the day also enabled the gathering of valuable data, supporting referrals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health checks and strengthening connections between families and local services.

This year marked a clear shift in scale and impact, reinforcing the Back to School Day as a vital support for families ahead of the school year.

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2026

In 2026, the Back to School Day reached new heights, with strong growth across attendance, activities, and service involvement. The number of children supported increased from 75 in 2025 to 108 in 2026, reflecting both growing demand and the continued trust families place in this community initiative.

The event expanded further to include two hairdressers and a barber, growing from just one hairdresser in 2024 and allowing more children to receive fresh haircuts and head into school feeling confident and proud.

A key highlight of the day was the colour run delivered by the Winda-Mara Health Team, which continued to promote movement, fun, and positive health messages for children and families. In addition, the Family Services Team ran a colouring competition, providing a creative, inclusive activity that encouraged engagement for children of all ages.

In 2026, over 30 stakeholders and services were involved in the event, offering families access to information, resources, and support across health, education, and community services.

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Our 2026 Supporters

Major Sponsors

Bendigo Bank, Alcoa, Wannon Water, and Gunditj Mirring

Sponsors and Stallholders

Treaty, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, DEECA, Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, Skills and Job Centre, headspace Hamilton, Lions Club, Koorie Academy of Excellence, VAEAI, Are-Able, Maternal Child and Health Nurse (PDH), Coastal Photobooths, Nicole Cleary Photography, Services Australia, The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, VACCHO, South West TAFE, Heywood Bakery, Handrecks Meats, Heywood FNC, Glenelg Shire Council, Barrs Amusements, United Way / Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Glenelg Shire Library Van, and our own Winda-Mara team.

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Looking Ahead

From supporting 38 students in 2024 to engaging over 100 children and nearly 200 community members by 2026, Winda-Mara’s Back to School Day continues to grow in reach and impact. The event remains a cornerstone initiative, reducing barriers to school readiness, strengthening community connection, and promoting health and wellbeing for children and families across the region.

Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation is proud to continue growing this event alongside our community, partners, and stakeholders, ensuring our young mob are supported to start each school year strong.

Thankyou to Nicole Cleary for all of the deadly photos!