Editors Note: Some of the information has been edited for length and clarity but the information and pictures in this article have been linked accordingly to their sources. This is not an exhaustive list of all the awareness days as we have chosen ones that are either relevant to Australia or observed globally. Also, side note: for the best formatting, this article is best viewed on a desktop computer or laptop.
General Causes this Month
Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)'s Tradies National Health Month
Focuses on educating and engaging tradies on the importance of full body health and safety, with handy tips and hints tailored to the needs of a tradie.
MS Readathon One Month Challenge
The MS Readathon is a reading-based fundraiser run by Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA). It encourages people of all ages to read and improve their literacy whilst at the same time raising their community awareness and empowering them to make a difference in the lives of people living with MS.
1st - 7th August
Homelessness Awareness Week
To highlight the over 105,000 Australians who are homeless on any given night. Homelessness Australia provides information sheets and resources to support events all around Australia.
CafeSmart by StreetSmart
ACTION AGAINST HOMELESSNESS
On Friday 5th August, $1 from every coffee sold in CafeSmart venues will go to help people who are homeless.
4th August
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NATICD)
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NATICD) is a celebration of human rights and Indigenous children. Held on 4 August each year, NAITCD was first observed by SNAICC in 1988.
Learn more:
5th August
Jeans for Genes Day
Jeans for Genes Day is the major fundraising event for the Children's Medical Research Institute, who is on a mission to reduce the number of children born with genetic illnesses.
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7th-13th August
National EOS Awareness Week
Hosted by 'ausEE' to raise awareness for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) in Australia; to help spread the word, educate the community and raise funds for medical research.
On the 8th of August is 'Top 8 Challenge Day', where ausEE Inc. charity challenges people to our take our Top 8 Challenge by not eating any top 8 common allergenic foods and don8 to help find a cure and improve lives affected by eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs).
Learn more at www.top8challenge.com
8th August
Dying to Know Day
Dying to Know Day is an annual day of action dedicated to bringing to life conversations and community actions around death, dying and bereavement.
The theme is "get dead set", with three recommended ways people can make sure their wishes are heard and upheld.
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8th-14th August
National Stroke Week
Raising awareness of stroke which Australia's second single greatest killer, with over 60,000 strokes occurring every year. You can get involved and hold an activity in your community to support the national campaign.
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Rail Safety Week
Reinforces the community-specific actions required to stay safe around rail; it is designed to engage and educate the community in safe rail practices.
Ongoing commuter safety relies on those interacting with the rail environment, both pedestrians and commuters to play an active role in rail safety, in particular to be aware of their surroundings.
Learn more:
9th August
International Day of the World's Indigenous People
This is a day used to celebrate and recognize the stories, cultures and unique identities of indigenous peoples around the world.
10th-20th August
Kidney Kar Rally
From 10 August, the 33rd Kidney Kar Rally will be heading through Queensland and northern NSW to raise vital funds for kids and young people with kidney disease.
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12th August
International Youth Day
Aims to be a reminder that investment in the worlds youth will provide a better future for all. The day focuses on tweens and teens and their place in society. It’s not just to protect them, but to include them in the development of communities around the world, whether they’re rich or poor.
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World Elephant Day
World Elephant Day was launched to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature.
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12th-13th August
Red Nose Day
This is the major fundraiser for Red Nose, dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and to supporting bereaved families. Funds raised go to help to provide vital services and programs to the Australian community.
Supporting Small Businesses Abroad Day
"In 2021, the tourism industry lost 1.78 trillion Euros due to the pandemic. All over the world, many jobs were lost and businesses closed forever. All in all, the effect was felt globally, but countries with economies that depend on tourism were impacted the most.
Leaving a review for a small business while abroad can mean the difference between them winning or losing a customer – so, on Support Small Businesses Abroad Day, we urge you to think back to the businesses you loved while you were on holiday but haven’t yet reviewed. Whether it was a café, a back street restaurant or a market stall, if you can find them on any review site then please leave a positive review and inspire other travellers to shop, eat or visit there."
Learn more:
August 13th
International Left Handers Awareness Day
An annual event when people can celebrate being left-handed, and raise awareness for the everyday benefits and challenges that comes with this.
Learn more:
- https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-left-handers-awareness-day-2022/
13th-21st August
National Science Week
Celebrates the contributions Australian Scientists have made to the world. There are hundreds of activities, events and debates across the country during the week.
Learn more:
14th August
Gay Uncles Day
With no day for all the nieces and nephews of the world to celbebrate their gay uncles, the internet called for that to change and dubbed August 14th a day for everyone to celebrate their love for Guncles all across the world!
16th-21st August
Keep Australia Beautiful Week
"Aims to demonstrate the easy ways people can help the environment and also save money by making a few simple changes around the home and in their daily lives."
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16th August
Cupcake Day
"Cupcake Day for the RSPCA is the biggest bakeoff in the Southern Hemisphere and involves Cupcake Cooks around Australia baking cupcakes and hosting a Cupcake Party to raise vital funds for the RSPCA."
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18th August
Vietnam Veterans Day (Long Tan Day)
"The anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, now synonymous with Vietnam Veterans Day.
In acknowledging Vietnam Veterans' Day, communities throughout Australia remember the sacrifices made by our young men and women in a conflict that spanned a ten year period, thus making it the longest war in which Australian's participated."
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19th August
World Humanitarian Day
"The purpose is to raise awareness of the plight of civilians around the world who have become caught up in conflicts, and also honour and raise support for the humanitarian workers who risk, and sometimes lose, their lives to help.
Over 130 million people throughout the world are currently in crisis, either through war or natural disasters and are in need of humanitarian aid."
Learn more:
International Orangutan Day
To recognise the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, and to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species.
20th August
World Mosquito Day (Malaria No More)
"World Mosquito Day on 20 August first came into being in 1897 when British doctor Sir Ronald Ross made the historic link that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans."
Learn more:
20th-26th August
Book Week
"Each year, many schools and public libraries from all over Australia spend a week celebrating books and Australian authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians develop activities, offer competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading."
Learn more:
22-28 August
Speech Pathology Week
Speech Pathology Week is the annual week to raise awareness about communication and swallowing disorders, as well as the work of speech pathologists.
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23rd August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
Intended to inscribe the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade in the memory of all peoples.
The 2022 Theme is "Stores of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism".
The transatlantic slave trade is often studied and discussed at the macro level. It was a phenomenon characterized by unprecedented mass human trafficking, degrading economic transactions and unspeakable human rights violations. But examining the transatlantic slave trade at the micro level reveals its true brutality. Behind the facts and figures are millions of human stories. The stories of those who were ripped from their homelands and families. The stories of those who fought against their oppressors. The stories of those who triumphed against all odds to win their freedom. Those stories continue today as people across the globe keep struggling together against the transatlantic slave trade’s most enduring legacy – racism.
Learn more:
26th August
Daffodil Day
Daffodil Day is one of the Cancer Council's most loved fundraising events and this year, every daffodil and every donation grows hope - hope for more survivors, hope for better treatments and hope for greater support.
As the largest merchandise based event in the Southern Hemisphere, it's day to support all Australians affected by cancer.
Learn more:
27th August
Tracky Dack Day
On the last Friday in August, Australians 'dack up and donate' by wearing tracksuit pants ('trackies') and fundraising for sick kids. This is an act of solidarity with hospitalised children, who are encouraged to change into trackies to lift their mood and create a more normal day-to-day routine.
Learn more:
28 August
MS Melbourne Run + Ride Festival
The MS Melbourne Cycle is the perfect opportunity to get on your bike with friends or family and explore Melbourne while showing your support for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
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30th August
International Day of the Disappeared, and
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disapperances
Gives the chance for us to recognise the numbers of people missing through conflict, disaster and migration and to show solidarity to their loved ones.
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31st August
International Overdose Awareness Day
An annual global event with an important message – deaths from overdose are preventable.
It is also a day to collectively remember all those who have died from overdose, and to acknowledge the grief of families and friends.
Learn more: