Acacia Children's Centre - St Albans

Acacia has demonstrated ongoing leadership towards reconciliation and strengthening the respectful implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives in Early Childhood Education.  We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are connected to the oldest surviving cultures in existence and are the First Peoples of the Lands across Australia. As educators, we ensure that children and families access honest histories, current perspectives and practices that respectfully reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and languages both past and present.  Through providing opportunities for cultural celebrations and practices, our educators, children, and families are becoming aware and responsive of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures .  We extend this by creating awareness of racism by helping children develop the language to describe and understand bias, stereotypes, and prejudice and providing them with the tools and power to respond appropriately.  We acknowledge that our educators, children, family, and wider community are all at different stages of their reconciliation journey and in their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.  We walk this journey together in building a strong sense of community of learners so that our children will have a positive outlook and become advocates for reconciliation and positive and sustainable change in practices and attitudes.  Acacia shows commitment to this vision through the continued development and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan, adopting practical strategies to reduce tokenism, racism and ensure social justice, equality and equity are embedded in our pedagogical practices. Through this RAP Acacia has committed all educators to be involved in the process.