By BEST Childcare Consulting
Australian Wildlife Week from 1–6 October 2025 is a unique chance for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services to demonstrate how they embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into everyday practice. By planning Wildlife Week experiences that honour Country, engage with Traditional Custodians, and support children’s connection with nature, services can provide evidence of Exceeding practice across multiple QA areas. You can also include this theme in Save the koala day on 26 September 2025 and as part of Biodiversity month in September.
Activity Ideas for Under-Five’s: Engaging with Wildlife & Country
Storytime with Dreaming Stories About Animals
Read or share Dreaming stories or local Indigenous stories featuring animals, plants, and Country.
Encourage children to draw, paint, or act out the animals and events in the story.
Helpful Links:
Narragunnawali – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Books – free lists and teaching resources https://www.narragunnawali.org.au
Magabala Books – Indigenous children’s books for purchase https://www.magabala.com
Little Yarns Podcast – short audio Dreaming stories to play for children https://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/programs/little-yarns
Nature Walk & “Listen to Country”
Take children on a slow walk through bushland, a park, or your service garden.
Pause often to listen for birds and insects, look for tracks or nests, smell plants, and gently touch textures where appropriate.
Helpful Links:
Nature Play WA Nature Walk Ideas – free walk guides & scavenger hunt templates https://www.natureplaywa.org.au
BirdLife Australia Bird Finder – look up local birds and teach their calls https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/
Noongar Six Seasons Guide – use to discuss seasonal changes on Country https://www.noongarculture.org.au/six-seasons/
Animal Habitats & Needs Play
Use toy animals or pictures to discuss what animals need: food, water, shelter, and space.
Work with children to build simple habitats using boxes, leaves, twigs, or natural loose parts.
Helpful Links:
Little Scientists – Habitats STEM Activity – free educator resources https://littlescientists.org.au/resources
Wildlife habitat – Wildlife Habitat Colouring & Activity Sheets – printable habitat activities
Sensory Bins with Natural Material
Create bins filled with soil, bark, leaf litter, seeds, and pebbles.
Hide small animal or insect toys for children to find and talk about.
Helpful Links:
Early Learning Sensory Bin Guide – safe sensory play ideas https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/play-learning/learning-ideas/sensory-play
Wildlife Footprint Match Activity (Free PDF) – hide animal tracks in the bin for children to match https://www.wildlifewarriors.org.au
Gardening / Native Plant Patch
Plant native shrubs, grasses, or flowers that attract pollinators, birds, and lizards.
Involve children in watering, weeding, and observing growth over time.
Helpful Links:
ABC Gardening Australia Native Plant Finder – choose plants for your region https://www.gardeningaustraliamag.com.au/plants/
Bush Tucker Gardens for Kids – free information on bush tucker plants
Junior Landcare Gardening Projects – project plans & downloadable templates https://juniorlandcare.org.au/learning_activity_category/gardens/
Hands-On Animal Visits / Incursions
Organise safe and ethical visits from wildlife carers or mobile education services.
Allow children to observe and, if appropriate, gently touch animals while learning how to care for them.
Helpful Links:
Hands on Wildlife Early Learning Programs – incursions with native animals
Australian Wildlife Education – Teacher Resources – posters & fact sheets https://australianwildlifeeducation.buzzsprout.com
Downloadable animal activities Zoos Victoria Early Childhood Education
Engaging with Wildlife and Country QIP write ups
QA1 – Educational Program and Practice
Embedded Practice:
The program includes Aboriginal Dreaming stories about native animals, “listen to Country” nature walks, habitat-building, and sensory play with natural materials as part of Wildlife Week. Children use Indigenous language names for animals and observe seasonal patterns, supported by the Noongar Six Seasons calendar. Educators embed these activities into routines rather than treating them as one-off events.
Critical Reflection:
Teams critically reflect on whether past programs included genuine Aboriginal perspectives or tokenistic references to wildlife. Educators consider how Dreaming stories, yarning circles, and guided nature walks deepen children’s understanding of Country. Meeting minutes show changes made to planning based on reflection (e.g., introducing native plant gardening or building insect hotels as ongoing projects).
Meaningful Engagement:
Local Elders are invited to share stories and lead children on a nature walk, helping them “listen to Country.” Families share favourite animals and their cultural significance. Children’s ideas from habitat-building or toy-animal play are documented and feed into future experiences.
QA2 – Children’s Health and Safety
Embedded Practice:
During sensory bins and habitat-building activities, educators model safe handling of natural materials and gentle observation of animals and insects. Children learn safe behaviour outdoors—washing hands after garden play, using magnifying glasses safely, and respecting wildlife.
Critical Reflection:
Educators review risk assessments for nature walks and hands-on animal visits to ensure they allow safe exploration without overly restricting learning opportunities. Reflection includes discussion of cultural burning practices and how these contribute to bushfire safety and wildlife health.
Meaningful Engagement:
Wildlife carers and Indigenous ranger groups are invited to speak about safe interactions with animals. Families contribute safety tips relevant to bushwalking, snake season, or local wildlife encounters.
QA3 – Physical Environment
Embedded Practice:
Outdoor environments include native plants and habitat features (bird baths, insect hotels) created by children during Wildlife Week activities. Yarning circles are established in shady natural spaces, allowing children to reflect and share wildlife observations.
Critical Reflection:
Educators reflect on whether the environment reflects local Country—using native plants identified by Elders, creating displays with children’s artwork from Dreaming story sessions, and considering whether animals’ needs are met in the environment (e.g., shade, food, water sources).
Meaningful Engagement:
Families are invited to contribute natural materials for play spaces or join planting days. Traditional Custodians provide input on appropriate native species, ensuring the space honours cultural knowledge.
QA4 – Staffing Arrangements
Embedded Practice:
Educators collaborate to deliver Wildlife Week activities—storytelling, habitat play, and nature walks—so children receive consistent messages about respect for Country and care for wildlife.
Critical Reflection:
Team meetings include reflection on staff confidence with cultural content. Educators identify the need for professional development on Aboriginal ecological knowledge or nature-based pedagogy.
Meaningful Engagement:
Indigenous educators or community members are engaged as mentors, building staff capacity to embed Indigenous knowledge authentically in future programs.
QA5 – Relationships with Children
Embedded Practice:
Educators follow children’s lead in choosing which animals to study or which habitats to build. Children are encouraged to express their ideas through drawing, storytelling, and dramatic play (e.g., acting out Dreaming stories).
Critical Reflection:
Educators reflect on whether all children—including those with sensory sensitivities or additional needs—have opportunities to connect with nature and wildlife through diverse activities such as quiet observation, messy play, or collaborative group projects.
Meaningful Engagement:
Children’s voices are captured in learning stories and displays, showing their curiosity and discoveries (e.g., “I heard a kookaburra laughing!”). These are shared with families to highlight children’s growing respect for wildlife.
QA6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Embedded Practice:
Families are invited to join Wildlife Week nature walks, contribute to sensory play materials, and attend yarning circles. Local Aboriginal ranger groups, wildlife rescue organisations, and councils provide incursions or excursions to enrich children’s understanding.
Critical Reflection:
The team reflects on whether Wildlife Week has become a co-constructed community event, not just a service initiative. Educators discuss how to maintain these partnerships year-round.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families share Indigenous animal names from their own languages or stories about local wildlife from their childhood. Community feedback is documented and used to plan follow-up projects.
QA7 – Governance and Leadership
Embedded Practice:
Wildlife Week activities are aligned with the service philosophy, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and environmental sustainability policy. Budget is allocated for incursions and native plants.
Critical Reflection:
Leaders review the effectiveness of Wildlife Week as a driver for cultural inclusion, environmental stewardship, and educator professional learning. Adjustments are made to ensure sustainability of these practices beyond one week.
Meaningful Engagement:
Leaders consult with Elders and Indigenous organisations about long-term partnerships. They ensure that cultural knowledge shared during Wildlife Week is acknowledged and appropriately credited in documentation and displays.
Western Australian Wildlife & Nature Incursions
- Parks and Wildlife Service WA – Early Childhood Nature-Based Incursions
• 1-hour sessions designed for ages 3-5, including bush walks, nature scavenger hunts, leaf printing, and weaving.
• Great for connecting children with local bushland and seasonal changes.
• Book here. - WA Wildlife (Native ARC Inc.)
• Live animal incursions featuring native birds, reptiles, and mammals.
• Children can observe and learn about habitats, diets, and care of injured wildlife.
• Find out more. - West Oz Wildlife
• Hands-on wildlife experiences brought to the service, focusing on habitats and conservation messages.
• Perfect for kindy and early years groups; can be tailored for Wildlife Week themes.
• Explore packages. - Herdsman Lake Discovery Centre
• Excursions and incursions exploring wetland animals, mini-beasts, and camouflaged creatures.
• Includes hands-on activities like dip-netting and creature identification.
• See programs. - Nearer to Nature Schools (DBCA WA)
• Nature-based incursions and excursions across Perth and the South-West.
• Supports the Early Years Learning Framework and encourages children to ‘care for Country.’
• Learn more. - Educated by Nature
• Tailored early childhood programs that promote nature play, resilience, and connection to Country.
• Sessions may include bush cubby building, loose parts play, and nature songs.
• Visit website. - Eco Action WA
• Incursions combining science and art, including insect and mini-beast discovery sessions.
• Children can explore ecology through hands-on art and sensory activities.
• View options. - WA Birds of Prey Centre
• Interactive presentations featuring live birds of prey and opportunities to observe up close.
• Engages children in discussions about conservation and caring for wildlife.
• Book here.
Helpful Links & Resources
- Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education – RAP resources & curriculum ideas: https://www.narragunnawali.org.au
- CSRIO Biodiversity & Indigenous Knowledge – overview of traditional ecological knowledge: csiro.au
- Wildlife Week Resources for Kids – free activity ideas: wildlife.org.au
- Noongar Six Seasons Guide – connection to Country learning: noongarculture.org.au
- Koori Curriculum — Aboriginal early childhood consultancy with resources, lesson plans, professional development, etc. Koori Curriculum
BEST Childcare Consulting
At BEST Childcare Consulting, we help services turn meaningful events like Australian Wildlife Week into powerful embedded practices. By embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, your service not only celebrates biodiversity but also demonstrates leadership in reconciliation, cultural competence, and environmental responsibility. As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an exceeding rating.
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