Indigenous culture, stories, language and literacy are being celebrated next month for Indigenous Literacy Day.
Held on September 5, Indigenous Literacy Day focusses on the disadvantages experienced in remote communities.
According to the 2017 National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), only 34 per cent of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas are at or above national minimum reading standards, compared to 95 per cent for non-Indigenous students in major cities.
Goodstart Cultural Liaison Melody Ingra said Indigenous Literacy Day was an important day focused on closing the literacy gap by proving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with more opportunities and access to more resources to develop a love of reading.
“By shining a light on Indigenous literacy more Australians will understand the disadvantages experienced in remote communities and it is my hope that we can advocate for more equal access to literacy resources for remote communities,” she said.
Children at Goodstart Melton Centenary Avenue will mark Indigenous Literacy Day on September 5 by sharing stories using words and symbols from the Woiwurrung language.
The children at Melton Centenary Avenue live, work and play on Wurundjeri country in Victoria where educational leader Rhiannon Jackson encourages use of the Woiwurrung language and symbols.
“Our toddler children are proudly creating their own stories with the help of Mandy Nicholson from the Wurundjeri community,” Rhiannon said.
“Stories with symbols expand children’s learning and engagement with a different style of literacy. They promote appreciation of other cultures as a way of being. Symbols are a great way to extend and explore cultures - look at what we’ve learned about Egyptian culture through their use of symbols.”
The centre embraces Wurundjeri culture each and every day by coming together to do their Acknowledgement of Country which they wrote themselves.
“We include Woiwurring language and actions because it’s important to create meaningful connections to country.
The centre has a reconciliation wall featuring its own art and stories, and staff have created their own
Reconciliation Action Plan with help from the Narragunnawali website.
Held on September 5, Indigenous Literacy Day focusses on the disadvantages experienced in remote communities.
According to the 2017 National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), only 34 per cent of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas are at or above national minimum reading standards, compared to 95 per cent for non-Indigenous students in major cities.
Goodstart Cultural Liaison Melody Ingra said Indigenous Literacy Day was an important day focused on closing the literacy gap by proving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with more opportunities and access to more resources to develop a love of reading.
“By shining a light on Indigenous literacy more Australians will understand the disadvantages experienced in remote communities and it is my hope that we can advocate for more equal access to literacy resources for remote communities,” she said.
Children at Goodstart Melton Centenary Avenue will mark Indigenous Literacy Day on September 5 by sharing stories using words and symbols from the Woiwurrung language.
The children at Melton Centenary Avenue live, work and play on Wurundjeri country in Victoria where educational leader Rhiannon Jackson encourages use of the Woiwurrung language and symbols.
“Our toddler children are proudly creating their own stories with the help of Mandy Nicholson from the Wurundjeri community,” Rhiannon said.
“Stories with symbols expand children’s learning and engagement with a different style of literacy. They promote appreciation of other cultures as a way of being. Symbols are a great way to extend and explore cultures - look at what we’ve learned about Egyptian culture through their use of symbols.”
The centre embraces Wurundjeri culture each and every day by coming together to do their Acknowledgement of Country which they wrote themselves.
“We include Woiwurring language and actions because it’s important to create meaningful connections to country.
The centre has a reconciliation wall featuring its own art and stories, and staff have created their own
Reconciliation Action Plan with help from the Narragunnawali website.