Borobi Day in Australia Date in the current year: May 31, 2026

It is estimated that over 250 Aboriginal languages were spoken in Australia at the time of initial contact with Europeans. However, the number of these languages has significantly declined since then due to colonization, assimilation policies, forced removals, and restrictions on Indigenous cultural practices. Today, fewer than 150 Aboriginal Australian languages are still in daily use, and most of them are considered endangered. Only thirteen are still being acquired by children, which means that the rest are in danger of becoming extinct when their speakers die out.

In recent decades, Australia has seen an increasing movement toward preserving and reviving Indigenous languages. Many communities and institutions are working to document endangered languages, reintroduce them into schools, and raise public awareness through various programs. One such program is the annual Borobi Day. But what (or who) is Borobi?

In 2011, Gold Coast City was officially announced as the host city of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Five years later, the organizers unveiled the event’s mascot: Borobi, a blue koala with Indigenous-inspired markings on its paws, designed by Aboriginal artist Chern’ee Sutton. In the language of the Aboriginal Yugambeh people of South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, the word “borobi” means “koala”. Using an Indigenous word was part of a broader attempt to incorporate Aboriginal cultural representation into the Games’ branding.

Borobi was a huge success during the Commonwealth Games and was not retired immediately after the event ended. In 2019, Borobi was repurposed as an “Indigenous culture champion” to raise awareness of the Yugambeh language and promote Indigenous culture across Australia. The Borobi Day initiative was launched through collaboration between the organizers of the Commonwealth Games and the Yugambeh Museum Language & Heritage Research Centre.

The inaugural Borobi Day was celebrated on May 31, 2019. This date was chosen as it falls during National Reconciliation Week, which is dedicated to celebrating Indigenous history and culture, as well as fostering reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. However, there is some confusion regarding the date of Borobi Day. The first celebration took place on May 31, 2019, a Friday. A few subsequent celebrations were held on the last Friday in May: May 29, 2020, and May 28, 2021. However, most sources cite May 31 as the date of the annual Borobi Day celebration.

The main goal of Borobi Day is to encourage schools, organizations, and communities to learn local Indigenous words, acknowledge traditional custodians, and incorporate Indigenous languages into everyday settings. Borobi Day events and activities typically include language lessons and workshops at schools, Indigenous storytelling sessions, cultural performances, the distribution of educational materials, and more.