Rosedale Uniting Early Learning, a small rural kindergarten in south-eastern Victoria, has embedded rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural aspects into their program.
Recognised at last year’s Victorian Early Years Awards, the early learning service won the Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award, for amplifying the voices and experiences of Koorie families and local community members.
Embedding culture
Rosedale Uniting Early Learning has incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and resources into every area of learning.
Early childhood teacher Pauline Dent said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and language is ‘sprinkled in all areas of our program, from songs and dancing, learning language, the arts, stories and truth telling, outdoor play, excursions and incursions.’
This is strengthened by meaningful collaborative partnerships with Koorie Engagement Support Officers, local Aboriginal elders and community members who regularly contribute cultural knowledge to support the program.
Staff at the service also participate in diverse specialised training, from bush tucker to Aboriginal ways of learning, so they can pass on the richness of the oldest living culture to the children, their families and the broader community.
Community feedback highlights the positive impact of the kindergarten’s inclusiveness on Koorie families.
‘Our service has been recognised by our local community, fellow professionals and the wider community as a leader in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our practice,’ Pauline said.
The service has shared their learnings through communities of practice and Yarning Circle meetings each term with local services within the Wellington Shire area.
Rosedale Uniting Early Learning were ‘grateful and humbled’ to be recognised for their work at last year’s Victorian Early Years Awards.
‘As we are lifelong learners, we are always critically reflecting on ways we can progress and strengthen as individuals and as a team,’ Pauline said.
‘We are all on a continuous learning journey and will continue to share and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as our first Australians to our youngest learners and that we learn, play and grow on Aboriginal land.’
Find out more
For more information about the VEYA awards, visit the list of 2024 award winners.
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