Journey to Big School
Culturally Responsive Transitions to School for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Journey to Big School centres culture, connection to Country and kinship as essential to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s wellbeing, identity and learning.
Through Journey to Big School, the SNAICC – National Voice for our Children Learning and Development team partners with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and brings together community stakeholders, such as schools, services and other supports, to strengthen relationships and approaches for community-led collaboration to improve school transitions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Journey to Big School supports communities to:
- strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, schools and local services and supports,
- increase cultural understanding and responsiveness across local school and services,
- recognise and build on what is already working well locally,
- plan culturally safe and connected pathways to school that reflect community priorities.
Beginning school is an important milestone for children and families, and is a key transition period in early childhood. Early experiences of the school system have lasting impacts on educational engagement and broader developmental outcomes. This is especially true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who experience higher vulnerability and exclusion in early childhood. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, strong transitions are grounded in culture, connection to Country and kinship and are essential to wellbeing and learning.
‘The significance of culture to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s
wellbeing and development is well documented.’ – ACCO Funding Report, page 39.
Contact the Learning and Development team at training@snaicc.org.au to learn more about how your community can participate in Journey to Big School.
More information on Journey to Big School
Journey to Big School is delivered in partnership with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, recognising the leadership, knowledge and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations guide the focus of Journey to Big School in their community. This includes:
- identifying local strengths and challenges,
- determining who and what local services should be involved, and
- shaping the priorities and outcomes of the partnership.
SNAICC’s role is to support, facilitate and walk alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation and local services throughout the process, valuing local knowledge, priorities and lived experience.
Journey to Big School brings together the people and services that support children and families in each community.
Participants may include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations,
- primary schools,
- early childhood education and care services,
- community, health and family support services,
- playgroups, and
- Elders and community members.
Participation is determined by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation and is shaped by existing relationships, local networks and community priorities.
Journey to Big School is specific to each community.
However, while the process may look different in each location, it typically includes:
- a face-to-face yarn with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation at their site to learn about the service, local context, strengths and priorities for transition to school,
- a one-day, in-person workshop that brings local stakeholders together to share perspectives, strengthen relationships and plan culturally responsive approaches to starting school, and
- a follow-up online yarn to reflect on learning, consider next steps and evaluate together.
Community-based outcomes with Journey to Big School
Between 2023 and 2025, SNAICC partnered with ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to deliver Journey to Big School across a range of communities achieving a number of outcomes.
Outcomes may include:
- stronger relationships and trust between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, schools and local services,
- increased cultural understanding and responsiveness among educators and service providers,
- clearer, more connected transition pathways for children and families, and
- shared commitment to culturally safe, community-led ways of working that support connected pathways to school.
In each location, desired outcomes were identified by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation in partnership with SNAICC and were grounded in the needs, priorities and aspirations of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
What participants have said:
‘It was so inspiring to work and connect with everyone.’
‘Great to see what people are thinking and hear how keen they are to do things differently.’
‘Thought-provoking conversations.’
Make an Enquiry
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations who are interested in strengthening transitions to school in their community are invited to connect with us to learn more about Journey to Big School.
Contact the Learning and Development team at training@snaicc.org.au.