Each year, the approach to 26 January invites a wide spectrum of emotions, opinions, and lived experiences across Australia.
For many, the day represents “Australia Day.”
For others, it is “Invasion Day,” “Survival Day,” or simply a painful reminder of loss and violence.
In early childhood education, where belonging, culture, and identity are central, it can feel confronting when educators within the same team hold different views. Yet these conversations matter deeply. The way we talk to each other shapes the way we can teach, lead, advocate, and create culturally safe learning environments.
One communication framework that helps teams navigate conflicting perspectives with dignity and respect is a technique known as looping, popularised in the book "Supercommunicators". Looping builds shared understanding so that teams can move from tension to clarity—and from conflict to collective purpose.
Let's unpack what looping is, why it works, and how you can use it when discussing 26 January within your service, especially as you engage with our Educate Don’t Celebrate campaign and our free resource “26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date.”
Why These Conversations Matter in Early Childhood
Our work with children is grounded in relationships, community, and truth-telling. Children watch how adults talk about complex issues and learn from our example.
As educators, we have obligations under the EYLF, the UNCRC, and the National Quality Standard to:
- honour children’s and families’ cultures
- promote inclusive practice
- develop cultural competence
- foster critical reflection
- stand against racism and discrimination
How we, as colleagues, navigate disagreement sets the tone for how confidently we can lead cultural conversations with children, families, and our wider community.
What Is Looping? (And Why It’s Useful for 26 January Discussions)
Looping is a simple three-step communication technique used to ensure the other person feels truly heard before you share your own view. It is especially effective when discussing sensitive or emotionally charged topics, like 26 January, because it slows down defensiveness and builds relational safety. Looping has three steps:
1. Ask a clarifying question
Invite the other person to expand so you understand their viewpoint.
- “Can you tell me more about what 26 January means to you?”
- “Which part of this feels most important for you?”
This signals genuine curiosity rather than judgement.
2. Reflect their viewpoint back to them (loop it back)
Paraphrase what they said in your own words.
- “So you’re saying the day has always felt like a celebration in your family…”
- “It sounds like you’re worried families might question our approach if we don’t acknowledge it.”
This isn’t agreeing, it’s demonstrating understanding.
3. Check that you got it right
Confirm your interpretation.
- “Have I understood that correctly?”
- “Is there anything I’ve missed?”
Only after they confirm do you respond with your own perspective. This creates a cycle of deep listening and respectful response.
How Looping Strengthens Team Dialogue About 26 January
Using looping in team meetings, planning sessions, or informal conversations can:
reduce conflict and defensiveness
- help colleagues feel valued and respected
- encourage deeper cultural reflection
- trengthen psychological safety
- make space for truth-telling
- keep the conversation focused on children’s wellbeing
Everyone gets to feel heard, not dismissed. Everyone gets space to speak, not shut down.
And when everyone feels heard, teams are far more capable of moving forward together with clarity and shared purpose.
Using Looping With Conflicting Perspectives: Examples
Example 1: “It’s just a public holiday. Why can’t we celebrate it?”
Ask: “Can you share more about why that feels important to you?”
Reflect: “So for you, this day has always been about family, barbecues, and coming together—not politics.”
Check: “Is that right?”
Then respond: “Thank you. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the day represents grief and dispossession. That’s why our service focuses on learning rather than celebrating. Let’s explore how we can communicate this respectfully as a team.”
Example 2: “We shouldn’t do anything at all for 26 January.”
Ask: “What concerns you most about acknowledging it at all?”
Reflect: “So you’re worried that by mentioning the date, children might assume we are celebrating it.”
Check: “Have I captured that correctly?”
Then respond: “We can acknowledge the date in a way that centres truth-telling, reflection, and respect. Our Educate Don’t Celebrate approach actually helps us do that safely and meaningfully.”
Linking Looping to Our ‘Educate Don’t Celebrate’ Approach
The Educate Don’t Celebrate campaign invites educators to shift away from traditional celebrations and toward learning, reflection, and truth-telling. This shift is sometimes uncomfortable because it challenges long-held narratives.
Looping helps teams stay grounded in:
- curiosity instead of judgement
- understanding instead of assumption
- relationship instead of conflict
- cultural responsibility instead of neutrality
By using looping as a communication tool, teams can navigate discomfort without fragmenting relationships, and without losing focus on the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Use Our Free Guide: 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date
To support your conversations, planning, and team reflection, we created a free downloadable guide: 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date.
It provides:
- background on 26 January
- culturally safe language
- reflective prompts
- discussion starters
- practical ideas for educators
- historical context
- links to quality resources
- ways to shift practice respectfully
Paired with looping as a communication tool, this guide can help your team step into courageous, informed, and culturally responsive discussions without fear of conflict or judgement.
Talking about 26 January will always require courage. It brings up history, identity, belonging, grief, and pride, all at once.
But respectful conversations are possible when we approach each other with curiosity and care. Looping gives us a framework to do exactly that.
When we listen deeply, reflect accurately, and check our understanding, we create space for complex truths and shared learning. We role-model the kind of communication we want children to experience generous, brave, relational, and open-hearted.
By combining the looping technique with the Educate Don’t Celebrate philosophy and the guidance in 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date, your team can move forward together with integrity and purpose, honouring Country, community, and the children in your care.
