Kindy Uplift Packages & Options
Kindy Uplift Packages & Options
Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood Education Across Queensland.
Culturally grounded, educationally sound, and nationally recognised professional learning for educators.
Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood Education Across Queensland.
Culturally grounded, educationally sound, and nationally recognised professional learning for educators.
Who We Are
Who We Are
Koori Curriculum is an Aboriginal-owned and operated early childhood consultancy led by Jessica Staines, a proud Wiradjuri woman and qualified early childhood teacher with over twenty years’ experience.
We support early childhood educators to embed Aboriginal perspectives meaningfully, safely and sustainably into everyday practice.
Although based in New South Wales, our work is national in reach. Our pedagogy and practice have been recognised by organisations such as AIATSIS, Be You, Early Childhood Australia and ABC TV Play School, and are valued for their authenticity, cultural integrity and educational quality.
Jessica’s teaching draws on Aboriginal pedagogy underpinned by the 8 Ways of Learning — a Wiradjuri framework formally endorsed for use in Queensland. This provides educators with a culturally sound, research-based approach to embedding Aboriginal perspectives within their existing programs.
We maintain deep connections in Queensland through collaborations with educators, local councils and early learning services — and through family ties on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Koori Curriculum is an Aboriginal-owned and operated early childhood consultancy led by Jessica Staines, a proud Wiradjuri woman and qualified early childhood teacher with over twenty years’ experience.
We support early childhood educators to embed Aboriginal perspectives meaningfully, safely and sustainably into everyday practice.
Although based in New South Wales, our work is national in reach. Our pedagogy and practice have been recognised by organisations such as AIATSIS, Be You, Early Childhood Australia and ABC TV Play School, and are valued for their authenticity, cultural integrity and educational quality.
Jessica’s teaching draws on Aboriginal pedagogy underpinned by the 8 Ways of Learning — a Wiradjuri framework formally endorsed for use in Queensland. This provides educators with a culturally sound, research-based approach to embedding Aboriginal perspectives within their existing programs.
We maintain deep connections in Queensland through collaborations with educators, local councils and early learning services — and through family ties on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Why Our Work Matters in Queensland
Why Our Work Matters in Queensland
Across Queensland, early learning services are seeking practical, high-quality professional learning that helps educators embed Aboriginal perspectives authentically — not superficially.
While the Kindy Uplift program emphasises local knowledge and community engagement, educators also need the pedagogical grounding and reflective practice to approach that work safely and confidently.
That’s where Koori Curriculum plays a complementary role. We don’t replace or speak for local community voices — we prepare educators to engage meaningfully with them.
Our programs support the before and after of community engagement:
Helping educators understand their “why”.
Building intercultural programs.
Creating culturally safe environments ready for genuine collaboration.
Across Queensland, early learning services are seeking practical, high-quality professional learning that helps educators embed Aboriginal perspectives authentically — not superficially.
While the Kindy Uplift program emphasises local knowledge and community engagement, educators also need the pedagogical grounding and reflective practice to approach that work safely and confidently.
That’s where Koori Curriculum plays a complementary role. We don’t replace or speak for local community voices — we prepare educators to engage meaningfully with them.
Our programs support the before and after of community engagement:
Helping educators understand their “why”.
Building intercultural programs.
Creating culturally safe environments ready for genuine collaboration.
Four Pathways to Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives
Four Pathways to Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives
Through years of work with educators nationwide, we’ve identified four key approaches:
Teaching through culture – Embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing using pedagogies such as the 8 Ways of Learning.
Teaching in context – Integrating culture through children’s interests and inquiries.
Creating culturally safe spaces – Designing environments that reflect and respect Aboriginal perspectives.
Teaching directly about culture – Sharing language, stories, dance or art, often led by local community members.
Koori Curriculum focuses on the first three — the pedagogical, contextual and environmental layers — helping educators weave culture through everyday learning in a way that’s ethical, sustainable and educationally rigorous.
Through years of work with educators nationwide, we’ve identified four key approaches:
Teaching through culture – Embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing using pedagogies such as the 8 Ways of Learning.
Teaching in context – Integrating culture through children’s interests and inquiries.
Creating culturally safe spaces – Designing environments that reflect and respect Aboriginal perspectives.
Teaching directly about culture – Sharing language, stories, dance or art, often led by local community members.
Koori Curriculum focuses on the first three — the pedagogical, contextual and environmental layers — helping educators weave culture through everyday learning in a way that’s ethical, sustainable and educationally rigorous.
The Sandwich Approach: A Scaffolded Model for Cultural Capability
The Sandwich Approach: A Scaffolded Model for Cultural Capability
Our professional learning model provides a structured pathway for building cultural capability:
Foundation – Understanding the Why
Workshops exploring belonging, identity, social justice and reconciliation.Preparation – Planning for Practice
Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and mapping local connections.Connection – Engaging Community
Supporting authentic, sustainable partnerships with local knowledge holders.Integration – Deepening Pedagogy
Translating Aboriginal ways of knowing into daily programs through the 8 Ways of Learning.
This model ensures educators progress logically — building readiness before “doing culture”.
Our professional learning model provides a structured pathway for building cultural capability:
Foundation – Understanding the Why
Workshops exploring belonging, identity, social justice and reconciliation.Preparation – Planning for Practice
Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and mapping local connections.Connection – Engaging Community
Supporting authentic, sustainable partnerships with local knowledge holders.Integration – Deepening Pedagogy
Translating Aboriginal ways of knowing into daily programs through the 8 Ways of Learning.
This model ensures educators progress logically — building readiness before “doing culture”.
Example Packages
Example Packages
Tailored Training for Your Team
Tailored Training for Your Team
The packages above are designed as a guide — a starting point to help you explore what’s possible. Every early learning service is unique, and we know that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely fits anyone perfectly.
We encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss your goals, challenges, and community context. Together, we can create a tailored professional learning experience that meets your team’s specific needs and supports meaningful outcomes for children, families, and educators.
The packages above are designed as a guide — a starting point to help you explore what’s possible. Every early learning service is unique, and we know that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely fits anyone perfectly.
We encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss your goals, challenges, and community context. Together, we can create a tailored professional learning experience that meets your team’s specific needs and supports meaningful outcomes for children, families, and educators.
Working Shoulder to Shoulder
Working Shoulder to Shoulder
We believe effective professional learning happens with educators, not to them.
Our approach is relational and reflective. We take time to understand each team’s context, community and goals before designing tailored professional learning that aligns with their RAP and priorities.
Through our Pedagogue in Residence model, Jessica works side by side with educators — co-reflecting, co-planning and co-teaching to bridge theory and practice in real time.
We believe effective professional learning happens with educators, not to them.
Our approach is relational and reflective. We take time to understand each team’s context, community and goals before designing tailored professional learning that aligns with their RAP and priorities.
Through our Pedagogue in Residence model, Jessica works side by side with educators — co-reflecting, co-planning and co-teaching to bridge theory and practice in real time.
Professional Learning Offerings
Professional Learning Offerings
1. Workshops & Webinars
Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives
Programming, Planning and Pedagogy
Aboriginal Art and Storytelling
Cultural Safety and Community Readiness
2. Pedagogue in Residence
On-site mentoring and curriculum design with Jessica Staines.
3. Leadership Retreats & Coaching
Professional development for educational leaders focused on leading cultural change and embedding reconciliation in Quality Improvement Plans.
4. Membership Support
Access to the Koori Curriculum Club for ongoing webinars, reflective guides and professional learning.
1. Workshops & Webinars
Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives
Programming, Planning and Pedagogy
Aboriginal Art and Storytelling
Cultural Safety and Community Readiness
2. Pedagogue in Residence
On-site mentoring and curriculum design with Jessica Staines.
3. Leadership Retreats & Coaching
Professional development for educational leaders focused on leading cultural change and embedding reconciliation in Quality Improvement Plans.
4. Membership Support
Access to the Koori Curriculum Club for ongoing webinars, reflective guides and professional learning.
Our Commitment
Our Commitment
We build confidence and competence — not dependence.
Our work empowers educators to create culturally safe environments where Aboriginal voices are respected and sustained.
Every partnership is guided by three principles:
Cultural integrity
Educational excellence
Sustainable practice
We build confidence and competence — not dependence.
Our work empowers educators to create culturally safe environments where Aboriginal voices are respected and sustained.
Every partnership is guided by three principles:
Cultural integrity
Educational excellence
Sustainable practice