The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) has produced a new resource in response to requests from early childhood educators for appropriate protocols to support services in providing a welcoming environment for Victoria’s Koorie families.
The ‘VAEAI Koorie early years: best practice and protocols – a practitioner’s guide’ provides guidance on how best to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood services and increase inclusion of Koorie families through respectful use of protocols and local Koorie structures and community.
These protocols include knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, reflection, research and relationship building.
The guide also outlines the foundational principles, procedures and behaviours that the early childhood education sector can use to demonstrate respect to Koorie communities in Victoria.
Achieving awareness and action with Narragunnawali
Narragunnawali is an online platform providing access to free professional resources that support awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.
Activities are teacher-led and can also be used by individuals in small groups during staff meetings and with the local Aboriginal community.
Early childhood services can use the platform to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and teachers and educators can access professional learning, curriculum resources, subject guides and webinars to support implementation of reconciliation initiatives.
Professional learning, resources and activities can be filtered by subject, year and RAP action. Professional learning options align with the National Quality Standard and at least one RAP action.
Explore options available through the School Readiness Funding Menu
The School Readiness Funding (SRF) Menu provides evidence-informed programs and supports that address 3 priority areas for school readiness:
- communication (language development)
- wellbeing (social and emotional)
- access and inclusion.
The SRF Menu includes the following supports focused on cultural safety. The websites of some of these organisations feature resources and supports related to cultural safety. They include:
- Aboriginal Cultural Supports
- Koorie Heritage Trust
- Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
- Supporting Reconciliation Professional Learning Bundle
- The Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Training
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd
- Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
- Yarn Strong Sista Aboriginal Support Packages.
About VAEAI
VAEAI is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation focused on advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to government on Koorie education and training priorities.
Find out more
For more information, refer to:
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