We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. Little J and Big Cuz: This animated series follows the lives of two Aboriginal school children as they explore themes of Indigenous identity, connection to country, traditional knowledge and cultural practices. My son has since asked me not to pack his lunch box with that specific food. We have an opportunity to show them what is right, what culture is, and to be proud of that. Teachers can also benefit from having time to reflect critically on problems, such as cultural marginalisation, caused by lack of diversity. Queensland educator, JULIE LEE DAVIDSON takes us through the importance of preserving Indigenous languages and suggests ways to incorporate them into early childhood curriculums.Exploring ways for children to learn Indigenous languages helps build awareness . Information for parents and carers including learning and wellbeing resources, advice, study skills, a quick guide glossary, homework help, tools for learning remotely, support for additional needs and more. We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. Resources encompass elements of Early Years Learning Framework and can be used as they are or adapted to suit the local community context. We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education. Jessica has worked in early childhood for fifteen years for a range of service providers in both urban and regional communities. National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee is what NAIDOC stands for and celebrations occur each July to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To break the cycle of trauma and violence and create hope and optimism, Lamb says we need to establish culturally credible services which are safe, secure and caring spaces for children and families. This finding underscores that the next generation should learn more about our unique Indigenous cultures. He emphasises contextualising solutions to supporting children and families in their adopted countries. By embedding cultural learning in the early years educators can impart the wonder of Indigenous knowledge, and support Aboriginal children's sense of identity and belonging, as well as promoting a culture of understanding and respect towards cultural diversity for all children. Australian educators understanding of cultural expression also seemed one-dimensional. programs designed specifically for Indigenous children play a key role in supporting children to develop their cultural identity Ideas for both families and child care practitioners Compile a range of digital and printed materials in your children's traditional language, including signs and pictures as well as books and magazines. Teachers must follow protocols for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. As it is not always practical for educators to provide such opportunities face-to-face, digital technology presents an alternative way in. Here are some suggestions for engaging with local Aboriginal communities: Embed Indigenous culture in your practice. Error This study captures the perspectives of parents and practitioners from 5 countries: England, France, Germany, Italy and USA. Australian early childhood educators have a responsibility to value and promote greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being. ACECQA spoke with Judith McKay-Tempest, a proud Wiradjuri woman and an Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University. Nguyen (2011) argues that Aboriginal early childhood education needs to provide children with a "sense of who they are and where the come from, which will impact community self-government and self-determination" (p.231). Let us rejoice the diversity of Australia - where else do we get to meet such an amazing mix of people from all over the world in one country? O~Mj+9!|JykOI\T$mZ7I5|g0Dn9)( >r1V7-, lZ,gM4JBO Your email address will not be published. However, eventually we want educators to begin thinking more holistically and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives within the curriculum instead of having it tacked on and separate. Specifically, as teachers of young children you can make a difference in promoting peace and harmony in our communities, so that Australia becomes a truly awesome place to live, for all of us! Tune into podcasts such as Educator Yarns. Watch how Indigenous early childhood educators extend on children's experiences through cultural knowledges and ways of learning. Judith stresses that it is important for all children to engage in this learning, regardless of the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children in the service. Designed to provide pre-school aged children a window into the world of school, each 13-minute episode follows lead character, Little J, on his adventures as he comes to understand and enjoy the sometimes unfamiliar environment that school can be, and the greater world around him. Keiryn discovered informally that children up to the age of 10 enjoyed watching the episodes. hbbd```b``Q i )DkFX "} R! "feA)6 Dl + The purposes of these actions, and the role of the . As part of our Quality in Practice series, Jessica Staines, Director of the Koori Curriculum explores National Quality Standard 1.2 and shares ideas on how educators can embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through their program and practice. . Case studies developed as part of an evaluation of the success of Little J & Big Cuz, commissioned by Dusseldorp Forum, show that the series and education resources add value to educators existing programs. Featuring the voices of PlaySchool presenters Deborah Mailman and Miranda Tapsell, the series received the 2018 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Childrens Program and is available to stream free online. Start teaching your children about indigenous culture with toys and activities they are already enjoying. I am passionate about sharing my Culture with children and teachers and love bringing interactive and engaging learning to you. The online games were seen as a useful end-of-day activity that was enjoyed by all the children and provided an oral language opportunity for the learning of new vocabulary. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. You can also help your children learn about Indigenous culture by taking them out to experience museums, historical sites, pictographs, and other educational places. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines and stories. Developing collaborative partnerships with local communities also supports Quality Area 6 of the NQS: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities. Aboriginal Storytelling in Early Childhood (Pre-Recorded Webinar). Visual arts practices associated with Aboriginal ceremonies are complex and interrelated with religious and cultural beliefs. Each episode was shown twice so that the children could become familiar with the stories. The online games were played after some episodes. She said its great to make such a positive impact on the childrens lives in the early years. endstream endobj 185 0 obj <>>> endobj 186 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/Properties<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 595.276 841.89]/Type/Page>> endobj 187 0 obj <>stream Its alright to stand up and say I am Aboriginal and I go to kindy and Im going to go somewhere in my life. The National Education Leader of the Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority, Rhonda Livingstone, explains that cultural competence is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. Early childhood education programs supporting Aboriginal children; . loading essentials, You Keiryn observed that sitting down like Little J, Big Cuz and their friends do when in Ms Chens class helped the children make this transition. They created functional art, like didgeridoos, to make music, narrative art, paintings and to tell stories. Supporting children's learning in early learning centres to embed aboriginal culture into their curriculum. creating a thriving culture; Mentor training for experienced early childhood teachers. Note that the linear equation . ECA perspective: Australias First Nations children, Stay and Play at the QUT Childrens Technology Centre during Live Wires, Playwork at Forrest Out of School Hours Care, Fulfillment and four-wheel driving: The life of an ECA Inclusion Professional, A story of self-care within early childhood education and care. According to the Report on Government Services, 14 991 Indigenous children are currently in out-of-home care. hb```VB cc`ay$X$Cq fM6::>$(.cJDJg/K@$,e%_`Z"s} Plus, information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school. Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. Photographs and videos related to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander peopleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned photographs/videos on this website may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress. Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in early childhood curriculums is a multifaceted approach that includes using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pedagogies, using childrens interests as a vehicle for learning and creating culturally inclusive play spaces. Elders teach that relationships, environment, living conditions, and history affect emotional health. First steps - the NSW Aboriginal children's early childhood education strategy 2021-2025 (2021) Indigenous participation in early childhood education and care - qualitative case studies September 2016 Key resources on improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in early education and care services (2019) Copyright Early Childhood Australia Inc. 2023, Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. The 2019 theme was We Play, We Learn, We Belong. The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110701433964, http://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/quality-professional-learning-look-like-early-childhood-teachers/. 241 0 obj <>stream Narragunnawali Reconciliation in education:An extensive suite of quality early learning resources to promote reconciliation and to strengthen childrens knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. This provides rich opportunities to build a culture of understanding and respect for the environment for all children. When the flower head was dried out it was also used as a hairbrush or as a fire torch. We want to show all of our children the pathway and guide them in culture and bring culture back because we lost it and we really need to get that back.. To be ethical means being compassionate and caring, being respectful and reflexive, and being willing to listen and learn from others. NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools, Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support. At an ECEC symposium held at Macquarie University in 2019, Dr Stefania Giamminuti set out a provocation to participants by asking how might we contribute to systemic transformations and cultural re-imaginings of ECEC settings? Telling stories without a book or any other props, is an ancient custom that serves the profound purposes of cultural maintenance and connection between generations and homelands. S[>Mb# a@W.%xPr]ov]HW^TcX1B2v;\&E|a26Ldm "8[z9/=_4w30 ". Implementing sustainable cultural practices involves educators building positive relationships and providing culturally safe environments that foster genuine attitudes of inclusion and equity. Many Australian families value the importance of teaching their children respect for our Countries First Nations Peoples however many struggle with their knowledge and confidence. Aboriginal children : the healing power of cultural identity Every day, 10 to 20 toddlers and preschool children gather at the Katl'odeeche First Nation Children's Centre on the Hay River Dene Reserve, Northwest Territories.