2 July 2015 | General Interest
National Education Leader Rhonda Livingstone has appealed for educators to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and histories in their everyday practice, as a part of their shared responsibility to contribute to national reconciliation.
In the lead up to NAIDOC Week, Ms Livingstone has written an article on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website imploring educators to make a commitment to developing their student’s, as well as their own, cultural competency.
“Cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be woven into the everyday practices and learning experiences at children’s education and care services. It’s more than displaying an Australian Aboriginal flag, or engaging children in dot painting,” Ms Livingstone writes.
“A great way to work on embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in your service is to further your own understanding and connection with these cultures.”
Amongst the other areas in which Ms Livingstone suggests educators can focus on is developing relationships with local communities and developing inclusive services.
“We must not underestimate the importance of gathering knowledge, ideas and input from families and communities in order to respectfully embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in a way which relates to the service’s community.”
Visit the ACECQA website to read the article in full, learn about Ms Livingstone’s suggested first steps, and gain access to further supportive resources.
