International Overdose Awareness Day falls on 31st August each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths. This day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the grief of friends and family who have had a loved one die or suffer permanent injury from a drug overdose.I

International Overdose Awareness Day is also a chance to encourage discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy, and spread the message that drug overdose is preventable. One of the goals of hosting this day includes educating the community about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose and provide information on the support services available.

Get involved this August by:

• Making a donation
• Hosting an activity
• Posting a tribute
• Spreading awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
https://www.overdoseday.com/

It’s a chance for Australians to come together and give; their ability to create change in the lives of people impacted by cancer, by funding cancer research.

It’s estimated that 151,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer in 2021. That’s over 400 people, per day. By supporting the Daffodil Day Appeal, you’re helping fund vital research for a cancer free future.

Get involved with Daffodil Day this year by:

• Organising a fundraiser in your community or workplace
• Making a donation to the Cancer Council
• Spreading awareness on social media and with friends and family

For more information, visit: https://www.daffodilday.com.au/

Healthy Bones Action Week encourages Australians to think about their bone health. Primary school is a crucial time for Aussie kids to build strong bones for life and ensure their daily routine includes the three steps to maintaining good bone health.

Healthy Bones Action Week promotes 3 simple actions for stronger bones:

1. Consume – Milk, cheese and yoghurt for calcium
2. Exercise – Do weight bearing exercise
3. Vitamin D – Get safe sunshine for vitamin D

For more information, visit: https://www.dairy.edu.au/healthy-bones

Speech Pathology Week seeks to promote the speech pathology profession and the work done by speech pathologists with the 1.2 million Australians who have a communication disability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced by Australians with communication disability. Communication is a basic human right and Speech Pathology Week seeks to make Australians aware of this.

The theme for Speech Pathology Week in 2022 is: Good communication, better communities.

Get involved this August by:

• Raising awareness of communication disabilities on social media
• Educating yourself on ways to successfully communicate
• Sharing successful communication tips with friends and family

For more information, visit:
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/

MS Readathon is a reading based fundraising program open to participants of all ages. Read through the month of August, get sponsored and make a difference! All funds raised go towards support and services provided for people living with multiple sclerosis, their families and carers while the search for a cure continues.

Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. There are over 25,600 people living with MS in Australia.

Get involved this August by:

• Being a part of the reading fundraiser
• Volunteering
• Donating to the foundation

For more information, visit: https://msreadathon.org.au/

Red Nose aims to reduce the number of unexpected deaths of children. Their mission is to continue research into causes and prevention of infant and child death, deliver safe sleep and safe pregnancy education to Australian parents and carers, and ensure free bereavement support is accessible following the death of a baby or child.

Use Friday 12 August as an opportunity to “get silly for a serious cause” and participate in Red Nose Day. Get involved by making a donation, organising a fundraiser, or buing merchandise.

Ways to get involved include:

• Learning more about Red Nose
• Fundraising online or offline
• Volunteering with the organisation
• Making a donation
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
https://rednoseday.org.au/

Red Nose Grief & Loss 24/7 Support Line: 1300 308 307

ausEE hosts National EOS Awareness Week to raise awareness for eosinophilic diseases, including eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) and eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) in Australia and New Zealand.

ausEE’s mission is to improve the lives of those affected by eosinophilic diseases through providing support, evidence-based information, resources, advocacy and by campaigning to raise awareness and funds for further research in Australia.

Get involved this August by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Making a donation
• Joining a fundraiser program

For more information, visit: https://www.eosaware.com/

During National Stroke Week 2022, one message being shared this year is to celebrate the precious moments that can continued to be enjoyed during and after recovery from stroke.

Help others to keep enjoying precious moments too by sharing the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke message with your family and friends.

If you or someone you know experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call triple zero (000) immediately.

For more information, visit: https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/national-stroke-week

Dying to Know Day is an annual campaign empowering Australians at all stages of life to live and die well. During August, everyone is encouraged to improve their knowledge around choice at end of life and discuss their wishes with people close to them.

Dying to Know Day seeks to reshape how Australians approach death, dying, and end-of-life planning. The 2022 campaign asks Australians to ‘get dead set’ by taking simple steps to plan for end-of-life.

Three ways Australians can ‘get dead set’:

1. Capture your choices in writing. Like a will, substitute decision-maker and guidance on your social media or organ donation. These could be documents, or as simple as a text or scribble on a serviette to start.
2. Have conversations with loved ones and others so they understand your wishes – and you understand theirs.
3. Prepare your send-off. Share what you want it to look like so you can be celebrated and remembered in line with your wishes.

For more information, visit: https://www.dyingtoknowday.com/

Jeans for Genes Day is organised by the Children’s Medical Research Institute to raise awareness of and fundraise for birth defects and genetic diseases.

1 in 20 kids faces a birth defect or genetic disease, like cancer, cystic fibrosis, and life-threatening metabolic disorders. That’s 12 kids born every minute worldwide. The funds raised from Jeans for Genes day go towards supporting further research for treatment and cures for these disorders.

Get involved with Jeans for Genes Day by:

• Making a purhcase through their charity shop
• Organising a fundraiser
• Making a donation to the organisation
• Spreading awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/