Glen Education Caulfield South

Culturally Safe Spaces

Junko Mackowiak, Early Childhood Teacher 

New Child Safety Standards to strengthen child safety will take effect in Victoria on 1 July 2022. Still, we are pleased to announce that our practices actively support and facilitate participation and inclusion for all cultures.  All educators at Glen Caulfield South Kindergarten are committed to implementing effective teaching strategies which create culturally safe environments for all children.

Child Safe Standard 1 states:

Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued 

This includes,  

• promoting safe, nurturing and child-friendly community environments.

•strengthen support services for parents in caring for their children 

• improve support for parents to enhance their skills and capacity to provide for the development and early development of their children

• provide outreach and home-based services for those most in need

We embedded Aboriginal culture in the program through ongoing experiences such as:

• Reading Aboriginal storybooks
• Exploring Aboriginal symbols by drawing with ochre rocks 
• Exploring the meaning of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
• Sing-alongs with Aboriginal songs. 

We believe these learning experiences support acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal culture in the local community.   These experiences are ongoing elements of the kindergarten program and through the exploration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture we create a space in which all children feel welcomed.  The experiences also support children to learn through authentic connections to Aboriginal culture, rather than tokenistic one off experiences.  

We will continue to provide opportunities for children to understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. 

Our educators understand that support should be adaptive to individuals, regardless of nationality or culture, including Aboriginal children and families, for their wellbeing and safety. We believe positive engagement is a cornerstone for inclusion, respecting all children and families to adaptively facilitate each child's development.