We welcomed our Educational Leaders to their first meeting for 2024 with an incredible workshop on Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) perspectives, led by our company’s Inclusion Cultural Coordinator Joelene Walker.
This workshop included a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, culture and cultural perspectives, reconciliation, guidance on respectful cultural protocols, and embedding ATSI perspectives into the curriculum. This reflective yarning drew on the professional knowledge of our Educational Leaders, who along with Joelene made meaningful curriculum and practice connections to the Early Years Learning Framework Version 2.
After a delicious morning tea of lemon myrtle scones with bush jam and cream prepared by Joelene, we continued our yarning as she taught us the practice of Ngarrindjeri Weaving, sharing the history and cultural meaning behind this practice, and ways can explore this with our children within the curriculum.
Extending on our play research and the “Image of the Child” from our previous meetings, we explored the “Image of the Educator”, considering the power of play and the role and practice of the educator within children’s play. We engaged in individual reflections, as well as group discussions, reflecting on the practice of supporting children’s play versus leading children’s play, drawing on research and reflections of practice to evaluate and extend pedagogical approaches.
Continuing our reflective discussion on the National Quality Frameworks, our Pedagogical Mentors concluded this meeting with a session on Quality Area 1.2 Practice. This session supported our Educational Leaders to make meaningful connections to between the frameworks and practice, focusing on how they facilitate and extend each child’s learning and development in response to the topics addressed throughout the day.