Gunawirra Toy & Book Drive

GUNAWIRRA - dreamtime word; the invisible seed of all creation. Gunawirra aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities to break the cycle of hardship.

Our programs focus on building capacity and confidence towards healing, resilience, and self-reliance by strengthening cultural identity and knowledge. Our programs also use professional clinical care and treatment to improve lifestyle and health.

Every year Gunawirra provides a toy and three books to each child in 26 rural and remote Preschools across Australia. This could be the only toy that some of the children receive at Christmas. With your support, we can bring smiles to the children’s faces and make a real difference.

How Can You Help?

We are seeking educational/developmental toys (suitable for Preschool age - 18 months to 5 years) and Preschool aged books (preferably Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander).

In recent years, we have grown the program to include at least one Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander book per child, as the depictions in these books are often rich in culture and far more relatable for the children in these communities across remote and rural NSW.

• We accept donations of new toys, preferably educational for children aged 18 months old to 5 years. Unfortunately, we cannot accept preloved or damaged items.

• All donations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s books would be greatly appreciated. Book stockists include: Magabala, Koori Curriculum, and The Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

• Favoured book titles: ‘Alfie’s Big Wish’ by David Hardy, ‘The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky’ by Helen Milroy, and ‘In the Bush I See’ by Kiara Honeychurch.

• Example toy brands include: Play-doh, Duplo and ELC.