Jessica Staines of Koori Curriculum recently visited Wagga Wagga TAFE Children’s Centre to conduct a Cultural Safety Audit and collaborate on ways to deepen the service’s approach to embedding Aboriginal perspectives. During her visit, she yarned with Kristy, the long-standing director who has led the preschool for over twenty years. Together, they reflected on the service’s journey, celebrating the many ways cultural perspectives are already meaningfully woven into their environment and program.
Thoughtful Inclusion of Culture in Practice
Upon entering the centre, Jessica was immediately struck by the warm and welcoming atmosphere. Evidence of the team’s thoughtful approach to embedding Aboriginal culture was visible throughout the space, reinforcing the educators’ commitment to fostering respect and inclusion.
One standout experience that caught Jessica’s attention was how educators were functionally using the AIATSIS Aboriginal Lands Map. In an innovative approach, an educator currently on leave, traveling around Australia with her family, has been documenting her journey through a travel blog. She shares photos and experiences from her trip, which the educators then map out with the children using a small car cutout, tracking the locations across the AIATSIS Aboriginal Lands Map.
This approach offers a meaningful and interactive way to teach children about the diversity of First Nations peoples and their connections to Country. Instead of seeing Aboriginal culture as a singular or static concept, children gain an evolving understanding of the vast and varied Nations across Australia, appreciating the uniqueness of each region and its peoples.
Garden-Based Learning Through the 8Ways Framework
Later in the evening, Jessica engaged the team in a 8Ways of Learning workshop, focusing on how this framework could guide a garden-based project. The 8Ways of Learning, which is an Aboriginal pedagogy framework, aligns learning experiences with diverse ways of knowing, including storytelling, symbols and images, land-based learning, and community links.
Through this process, educators explored how they could design a garden project that not only supported children’s learning about sustainability and nature but also strengthened their cultural understandings. By thinking holistically, they were able to brainstorm creative and innovative experiences that incorporated cultural knowledge, hands-on engagement, and deep connections to land.
Continuing the Journey
This visit is just the beginning of an ongoing collaboration. Jessica will reunite with the team in April at the TAFE Children’s Services Conference to check in on their progress and further support their journey.
The work being done at Wagga Wagga TAFE Children’s Centre highlights the power of intentional and reflective practice in embedding Aboriginal perspectives. Through innovative approaches like the AIATSIS Aboriginal Lands Map activity and the integration of 8Ways of Learning, the team is ensuring that cultural inclusion is not just symbolic but embedded in the daily experiences of children, fostering a deeper understanding and respect for First Nations cultures from an early age.
