Each year National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
Each year a number of our Goodstart Early Learning centres across the country participate in the National Reconciliation Week to enrich the learning experiences of children within our care, including building their understanding of Australia’s rich and long history and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
This year’s theme ‘Our History, Our Story, Our Future’ asked all Australians to reflect on our national identity, and the place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and rights in our nation’s story.
- ‘Our History’ reminds us all, that historical acceptance is essential to our reconciliation journey.
- ‘Our Story’ reflects the fact that the journey towards reconciliation forms a significant part of Australia’s story, as do the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- ‘Our Future’ reinforces that reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, in the knowledge that we believe in fairness for everyone.
Children at a number of our Goodstart Early Learning centres learned more about our history and participated in a range of dedicated Reconciliation celebrations during this culturally significant event. A snapshot of how just three of our centre’s activities during the week include:
- Goodstart Marrickville (NSW) – a variety of learning experiences were prepared helping to develop and give children a greater understanding of the purpose of National Reconciliation Week. The preschool children visited Marrickville Public school where they took part in a special assembly. In the centre, the children read dreamtime stories and took part in a number of Aboriginal art experiences.
- Goodstart Indooroopilly Witton Road (QLD) – children enjoyed listening to traditional dreamtime stories, learning about "saying sorry", and enjoyed a range of art activities inspired by Aboriginal art.
- Goodstart Hope Island (QLD) – Kindergarten children had discussions about embracing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people culture and read stories about ‘The Rainbow Serpent’ and ‘When the snake bites the sun’. The children then reflected on The Rainbow Serpent while walking through their specially designed Aboriginal sensory garden and sitting in the centre’s yarning circle.