In Season 5 of Educator Yarns, host Jess Staines, Director of Koori Curriculum, is joined by Bec Burch, founder of Bush Kindy Australia.

Together, they explore the fascinating intersection between Aboriginal perspectives, nature play, and sustainability in early childhood education. This thoughtful conversation delves into common misconceptions held by educators, highlighting that while these three areas overlap, they remain distinct educational focuses requiring intentional integration.

Bec shares her wealth of experience in establishing nature-based learning programs across Australia, whilst Jess offers invaluable insights into meaningful Aboriginal cultural integration beyond superficial activities.

This episode sets the foundation for a season dedicated to helping educators move beyond "just sticks and stones" towards deeper, more authentic engagement with both nature and Aboriginal cultural perspectives.

In this enlightening episode of Educator Yarns, we sit down with Aaron Johnston, recipient of the Primary School Teacher of The Year Award at the Koori Curriculum Educator Awards in 2024.

Aaron, an Assistant Principal at a K-6 school on the Central Coast of NSW (Darkinjung Country), shares his profound journey of becoming an active ally for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. From his awakening during the Black Lives Matter movement to supporting a student discovering their Aboriginal heritage, Aaron candidly discusses how his ignorance transformed into passionate advocacy.

As the leader of his school's Aboriginal Education team, creator of Mr. J's Learning Space on social media, and co-host of the Teacher Takeaway podcast, Aaron demonstrates how educators can authentically embed First Nations perspectives in their pedagogy and influence their communities.

This conversation offers practical insights for early childhood educators seeking to begin or deepen their journey of embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their teaching practice.

In this enlightening episode of Educator Yarns, host Jess Staines is joined by Bec Burch, founder of Bush Kindy Australia, to explore the powerful intersection between Aboriginal perspectives and sustainability practices in early childhood education.

Together, they unpack the seven Rs of sustainability—rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, regift, and recycle—and how these principles can guide educators in teaching children to become mindful custodians of Country.

This conversation delves deep into practical strategies for moving away from wasteful classroom practices towards more meaningful, culturally respectful approaches that honour Aboriginal connections to land.

Bec and Jess share inspiring examples of how natural materials can become rich learning resources, the importance of ethical procurement that supports Aboriginal businesses, and how educators can critically reflect on their environmental impact in ways that respect the traditional owners of the land on which centres operate.

In this powerful episode of Educator Yarns, we sit down with Kimmi, an award-winning early childhood teacher, mentor, and National Indigenous Perspectives partner at Greenleaves. As a proud Māori woman, Kimmi shares her deeply personal journey of using her own cultural roots to build meaningful connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

Working with over 65 Greenleaves services nationwide, she supports educators and leadership teams to develop authentic knowledge of how to incorporate Indigenous cultures and histories while avoiding tokenistic approaches.

Kimmi's candid discussion about navigating her role within a colonial context, her approach to self-care whilst carrying cultural responsibilities, and her practical strategies for centres to develop genuine partnerships with local communities offers invaluable insights for educators at any stage of their reconciliation journey.

In this illuminating episode of Educator Yarns, we welcome back Bec from Bush Kindy’s Australia for an in-depth conversation about Bush Tucker Gardens in early learning environments. Together, Jessica & Bec explore the profound educational value these spaces offer and address a common challenge observed across many services: the tendency for Bush Tucker plants to be underutilised, neglected, or misunderstood.

Bec shares her wealth of knowledge about why these gardens matter, how they connect children to Country, and practical approaches to establishing and maintaining meaningful native plant spaces that authentically reflect local ecosystems.

Drawing from their extensive experience working on Country and witnessing successful implementations in educational settings, they offer invaluable insights for educators wanting to move beyond tokenistic inclusion of native plants towards genuine engagement with Aboriginal perspectives through place-based learning experiences.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, Jess Staines speaks with Linda Wilson, a dedicated early childhood teacher at Sentia Early Learning in Melbourne CBD.

Originally from Sweden, Linda shares how her childhood experiences exploring Swedish forests shaped her deep appreciation for nature as a teacher and guide. Now living and working on Wurundjeri Country, Linda beautifully intertwines her background in Nordic Forest pedagogy with Aboriginal perspectives in her teaching practice.

Despite being based in Melbourne's urban centre, Linda has led her kindergarten children on more than 30 excursions to connect with Country, learn about local Aboriginal history, and develop meaningful relationships with the land. Her approach demonstrates how educators can follow children's natural curiosity to explore Aboriginal perspectives, even in city-based settings.

Linda's journey from knowing very little about Aboriginal culture upon arriving in Australia to embedding it meaningfully in her practice offers valuable insights for educators seeking to deepen their understanding and approach to cultural connections.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, host Jessica Staines, Director of Koori Curriculum, is joined by Bec Burch, founder of Bush Kindy’s Australia, to explore the transformative power of "On Country" program for early childhood education.

This thoughtful dialogue delves into how venturing beyond the confines of traditional learning environments enriches children's development through meaningful connection to place. The conversation weaves together Aboriginal perspectives, particularly the concept of "land links" where learning connects back to country, with the principles of nature pedagogy.

Both share their wealth of experience in creating powerful outdoor learning experiences that support children's wellbeing, foster curiosity, and provide sensory-rich environments that manufactured classroom materials simply cannot replicate. This episode offers practical insights for educators seeking to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives and nature-based learning into their practice, highlighting the profound benefits for all children, including those with additional needs.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, we speak with Stephanie Watson, an inspiring early childhood educator and nominee for the Koori Curriculum Early Childhood Educator of the Year awards.

Based at Happy Hearts Academy Early Learning Centre in Helensburgh, Stephanie has transformed her service's approach to embedding Aboriginal perspectives through developing a meaningful Reconciliation Action Plan from scratch.

With over ten years of experience in early childhood education, Stephanie shares her journey from wanting to work with the Starlight Foundation to becoming an educational leader passionate about ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and perspectives are authentically integrated into daily practice.

Her story reveals how dedicated research, community connections, and persistent advocacy can create meaningful cultural learning experiences for both educators and children.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, we chat with Taylar Malouf, an inspiring early childhood educator from Hopscotch Kindergarten.

Over the past two years, Taylar has embarked on a transformative journey to embed First Nations perspectives into her teaching practices, creating meaningful learning experiences for children under her care.

From her initial "Caring for Country" project that began with children's concern about rubbish in their local park, to developing a Bush Tucker Garden and exploring Indigenous seasons, Taylar shares how these initiatives have become central to her pedagogy.

Her authentic approach demonstrates how early childhood settings can move beyond tokenistic representations to create genuine connections with Aboriginal perspectives that resonate with children, families and the broader community.

Taylar's story highlights the power of sustained commitment, relationship-building, and using frameworks like the Aboriginal Eight Ways of Learning to create rich, culturally responsive learning environments.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, hosts Jessica Staines and Bec Burch tackle one of the most frequently asked questions in early childhood education: how to appropriately and respectfully connect with local Aboriginal communities.

Prompted by a heartfelt voicemail from Kate at Little Saints at Tallebudgera, who runs a Bush Kindy program seeking guidance on community engagement, the hosts dive deep into the nuanced process of building authentic relationships with Aboriginal elders and knowledge holders.

Drawing from years of personal experience, including both
inspiring successes and confronting challenges, Jess and Bec unpack why the journey to meaningful connection requires far more than a simple phone call or email.

They explore the critical importance of understanding your 'why', ensuring cultural safety within your service, and demonstrating genuine reciprocity through community involvement before seeking support for your programs.

In this deeply insightful episode of Educator Yarns, we journey with Kat Fulford, a passionate early childhood educator from Ararat, Victoria, who shares her transformative approach to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in kindergarten education.

From her unique background transitioning from agricultural
industry to early childhood education, Kat brings a profound connection to Country that permeates every aspect of her teaching practice. She candidly discusses the challenges of finding Aboriginal education resources in regional Victoria, the powerful moments that shaped her commitment to this work, and practical strategies for creating meaningful connections between children and Country.

Kat reveals how simple acts like wearing clothing with Indigenous patterns can signal safety and inclusion to Aboriginal families, and shares moving stories about five-year-olds becoming advocates for acknowledging traditional owners in their primary schools. This conversation offers invaluable insights into slow pedagogy, seasonal learning through Aboriginal perspectives, and the importance of building authentic relationships with local Aboriginal communities.

In this honest and practical episode of Educator Yarns, Jessica Staines and Bec Burch tackle the concerns many early childhood educators face when taking children out of the gate and onto Country.

Rather than sugar-coating the challenges, they share real experiences from the field - from unexpected encounters with dogs and community members to navigating snake safety and supporting children with additional needs.

Drawing from years of experience in bush kindy programs across Australia, they demonstrate how careful planning, community partnerships, and cultural awareness can transform perceived risks into manageable learning opportunities.

This episode offers invaluable insights for educators looking to embed Aboriginal perspectives through authentic connection to Country whilst addressing the very real anxieties about outdoor learning environments.