Glen Education Bentleigh East

Creating a Culture that Values Diversity and Respect for Others 

Supreet Kaur, Early Childhood Educator

Rina Shah, Early Childhood Educator

The new child safe standard reflects the absolute empowerment of children’s rights. It ensures that children participate in decisions affecting them and as educators and 

early childhood professionals we must ensure by law that their voices are heard.

According to the new standards services must show respect to each child’s individual identity. We need to be mindful that this is an everyday ongoing experience. As educators and early childhood professional we need to be very aware and receptive of children’s cultural backgrounds and histories and notice moments where we can help them to celebrate their individual identity. We must notice the signs and act accordingly to create an environment which supports children to be themselves and to reflect their culture and identity.  As early childhood professionals we recognise their their right to be feel safe and respected for who they are.

At Glen Education Bentleigh East we take action to embedded respect for diversity and equity  into the way we plan our programs and set up our early childhood environments. After reading the new guidelines and focusing on what their purpose is, we feel empowered, empowered to call it out, empowered to make a difference and importantly empowered to implement these values in our profession and in our lives.

We can see what these specific guidelines are going to achieve. We am proud to be involved in the lives of children and their families. We will study these guidelines and encourage colleagues to also join us in this important change. What a wonderful time to be involved in the Early Childhood Community. Everyone has a voice, and we need to ensure , EVERYONE, including our children, have a voice, so they always feel safe.