On Tuesday, May 3, Educators are invited to a free webinar, hosted by Narragunnawali, that will unpack the 2022 National Reconciliation Week (NRW) theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” The webinar will explore ways Educators incorporate reconciliation and share some practical ideas for learning about and celebrating the theme in early childhood services.

Among the key principles of the NQF is the valuing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Recognising and including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures forms the bedrock of not only reconciliation but of the broader process to foster respect for diversity and cultural competence. Here are some practical steps that educators can take to bring about deeper reconciliation and inclusion in service goals and practices.

The Bush Tucker Posters detail information on the nutrition bush tucker foods provides to the Aboriginal people. These posters can be used as a display and to start conversations with children on bush tucker.

The Australian Dot Colouring provides 8 Australian animals on a background of dots. Children can make patterns using different colour paints, textas, crayons, cotton swabs etc. Originally, indigenous people of Australia used dots to disguise the sacred meanings behind the stories in the paintings. They drew designs that included dots on the soil, sand, and made body paintings for ceremonies because they could easily erase them as they were considered sacred.

Aboriginal Symbols are symbolic language that Indigenous Australians use to tell stories of the Dreamtime and are used in contemporary art. Using these aboriginal symbol flashcards, children can be introduced to Indigenous Culture. These flashcards can be used in numerous ways to extend upon children knowledge.

This template is to use to document the discussions during Yarning Circle. 

A yarning circle is the practice of speaking and listening from the heart, for sitting together to talk and listen and share ideas and stories.

Raising awareness about Aboriginal culture is an important aspect of children’s learning and growing a bush tucker garden, children will show a growing appreciation for native edible Australian plants.