Reconciliation Week 2022 Winner

Hastings Preschool and Long Day Care Centre - Port Macquarie

Hastings Preschool and Long Day care centre of Port Macquarie are on a continual journey of ‘Being Brave and Making Change’. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and in playing our part we collectively build relationships within the centre and the community by valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their culture and embedding it in our daily program.

The Team of Hastings Preschool has the passion and understanding of acknowledging unfair and unjust issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples which has motivated us to focus on rebuilding and reconnecting culture within the centre.

This includes engaging in many conferences, webinars, local community council days, hosting workshops and visits from members of the local community to share their knowledge on Dancing, cooking, storytelling and ochre painting.

Last year An Aboriginal Liaison officer was employed and after identifying and reviewing policies regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children, these polices have been replaced with a Partnership agreement with help of a local Aboriginal Community member.

A Local Aboriginal artist has made signage for our centre regarding ‘our story and the community’.

Currently we have three female and one male Aboriginal identified Traineeships working within the centre all bringing knowledge and valued skills to the team.

Our beautiful centre, has many resources available to all such as books, dolls, fabric table runners, tapping sticks, didgeridoo, bowls, tracking stones, an outdoor foyer picture story and many more - the list is endless as we embed culture daily in our programs. The children in all age groups confidently sing our “Care for song” country understanding and respecting the land we live on (Birpai Land) and passing on our respect to past, present, and future custodians of this land.

At Hastings Preschool we are dedicated to always embrace Aboriginal diversity and are always willing to be brave and make change for a better future.

Koori Curriculum's Reconciliation Week 2022 Competition

 

The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians — individuals, families, communities, organisations and government — to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just in National Reconciliation Week but every week of the year.

We saw unprecedented responses to our suggested actions for every day and for braver action.

This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives – where they live, work, play and socialise.

National Reconciliation Week—27 May to 3 June—is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year the Koori Curriculum is asking all early childhood educators to share with us how they are being brave and making change in their service and local community.

Have you:

  • Identified, reviewed and changed policies and practices that other, exclude or discriminate against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children?
  • Have you centred Anti Bias goals and practices in your curriculum?
  • Had tricky conversations with management, colleagues and families in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs?
  • Changed the date and the way that you celebrate Australia Day?
  • Acknowledged unfair and unjust issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in your community and walked alongside and behind to rectify and address them?

Share with us what you are doing so we can continue to inspire and motivate one another. The top 20 contributors with the highest votes will go in the draw to win a $200 voucher with the Koori Curriculum.

 

How to enter:

  1. Write a blurb of up to 300 words or more outlining how you have implemented one or more of the above actions.
  2. Include an image of your implemented actions.

The competition will be open from the 2nd to the 22nd of May for entries.

Voting will close on the 29th of May.

The winner will be announced on the 3rd of June via our newsletter, Facebook and on our Instagram.

 

Voting:

To vote enter your name and email address, you will be able to vote for one entry once per day and will be added to our weekly newsletter.

Any issues with submission or votes please contact us at info@kooricurriculum.com

How to vote in the competition:

  1. Click on “open gallery” below
  2. Click on the picture of the Educator you wish to vote for
  3. Scroll down to the “Vote Now” button
  4. Enter your name and email address and click the “I am not a robot” button
  5. Click on the “Vote Now” button