Development Of The Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework For ECEC Services

The Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework is designed to create culturally responsive, safe, and welcoming environments for Aboriginal children and their families within the early childhood education and care sector.

The framework supports ECEC providers in offering services that respect and nurture Aboriginal culture, language, kinship, and identity. This approach not only encourages the participation of more Aboriginal children in early childhood education but also helps all children learn about and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The concept of culturally safe services in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is crucial for fostering an inclusive environment. These services not only encourage the participation of Aboriginal children but also ensure that all children learn to appreciate and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. This approach helps create a more inclusive and understanding community from a young age.

About the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework

The Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is a comprehensive guide developed through extensive consultation with the sector. It sets clear expectations and standards to help ECEC services create and sustain culturally safe environments. This framework includes various tools and resources aimed at valuing and nurturing Aboriginal culture, language, kinship, and identity.

The aims of the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework are to:

• support uplift in the ECEC sector by providing clear expectations, standards and guidance to support services to develop, maintain and improve cultural safety

• encourage best provision and maintenance of culturally safe and responsive environments for Aboriginal children, their families and ECEC staff in every type of ECEC service

• support an increased participation of Aboriginal children in ECEC services

• enhance knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history and culture.

This initiative is part of the First Steps Aboriginal Children’s Early Childhood Education Strategy 2021-2025, which aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children and families.

The NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority’s Cultural Safety Team will continue to keep the ECEC sector informed about the progress of the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework.

For more information, please read the following: Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework