Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Aboriginal flag
"The Aboriginal flag " (5 years).

When early childhood professionals teach children about Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures, they are contributing to reconciliation. However, many educators don't know where to start.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week in 2022 was "Be Brave. Make Change". If you don't know how to embed this topic into your program, start by being brave. Speak up, ask questions, and improve your own knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

EYLF learning outcomes

The Early Years Learning Framework promotes respect for diversity, culture and language, and specifically refers to "promoting greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being."

The EYLF asks educators to "value the continuity and richness of local knowledge shared by community members, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders."

When childcare and early education services authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures into their programs, these EYLF learning outcomes are supported:  

  • Connecting with people (4.4) and interacting with care, empathy and respect (1.4).
  • Responding to diversity with respect (2.2).
  • Becoming aware of fairness (2.3).

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a deep history and connection to Country, children can learn respect for the environment (2.4).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will also benefit from developing a strong sense of identity (1) and sense of belonging to groups and communities (2.1).

Learning experiences

Learn a language

Early childhood educators can support children to learn indigenous languages:

  • Use Gambay, an interactive online map, to help identify the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages used in your local area.
  • Use the Map of Indigenous Australia to help determine social and language groups in your area.
  • Use a tool provided by First Languages Australia to contact your local language group.
  • Use The 50 words project to learn a list of words in your local languages. Both audio and text is provided, so you can learn correct pronunciation.
  • Record your own version of the Marrin Gamu song.
  • Use the traditional Aboriginal names for places within your community.

Play with small worlds

Read a picture book written by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island author. Retell the same story using small world play. Use loose parts made from natural materials (e.g. twigs, stones, feathers and textiles) to represent concepts within the story. Place them on a table or in a tray. Let children use them to reenact the picture book.

Learn about the flags

Support children to make their own flags using drawing, painting or collage. Also, discuss the importance of these flags with the children. Read about the Australian Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag on AIATSIS.

Be inspired by art techniques

Introduce children to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, including the materials and techniques they use. Encourage children to experiment with these themselves.

  • Tjanpi artists are contemporary fibre artists. They create baskets and sculptures from native grasses, seeds and emu feathers. What can your children make from native grasses?
  • Albert Namatjira is highly acclaimed for his watercolour scenes of Australian landscapes. What landscapes can your children paint using watercolours?
  • Lily Kelly Napangardi uses fine dots to paint sandhills using high-contrast tones and minimal colours. Can your children paint their environment using only black and white dots?

Cook using native ingredients

Be inspired by the native ingredients used by Bundjalung man and celebrity chef, Mark Olive. These include wattleseed, lemon myrtle, lemon aspen, muntries, quandong and lilly pillies. Prepare a meal using these ingredients or add them to your playdough.

Play traditional games

Get active and play traditional games. The Australian Sports Commission has a list of indigenous games that can easily be adapted for younger age groups. 

Connect with Country

Help children connect with Country through learning experiences about indigenous plants and indigenous animals. Establish an edible bush tucker garden that also attracts native birds and insects.

Draw First Nations symbols

Encourage children to draw First Nations symbols with their fingers in a sand or dirt tray. View examples and read about the meaning of First Nations symbols on Common Ground.

Learning environments

Value people and culture

Create a learning environment that welcomes all people. Reflect on your existing resources and look for opportunities to add new, authentic resources relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

Ensure you have permission to use cultural artefacts and your resources are sourced from genuine suppliers. Check Supply Nation, Australia's leading database of verified Indigenous businesses.

Family and community connections

Connect with Aboriginal people

  1. Before you reach out to Aboriginal people in your community, ensure your staff are culturally competent. If required, arrange formal training in cultural competency.
  2. Ask Aboriginal staff and families about the lands they are connected to. They may be able to help with links to the local Aboriginal community.
  3. Connect with local Aboriginal land councils, cultural centres, organisations or businesses.
  4. Attend Aboriginal events within your community.
  5. Invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers to your service.
  6. Invite Aboriginal community members to a morning tea at your service.
  7. Aim to establish shared goals and a reciprocal relationship.

Visit culturally-significant locations

Research landmarks of significance to Aboriginal people within your local area. Arrange an excursion to learn about local history and culture.

Routines

Acknowledge Country

Integrate Acknowledgment to Country into your morning group time. Read Demonstrating respect for Country, written by Deborah Hoger, a Dunghutti woman and early years Indigenous educational resources specialist.

Tell stories every day

Provide opportunities for storytelling within daily routines. QCAA suggests a structure to follow for yarning circles:

  1. Everyone sits in a circle.
  2. An educator invites each person to introduce themselves and share something about themselves.
  3. The educator explains a purpose, topic or question for the circle.
  4. Each person shares their thoughts on the topic. These ideas could be drawn on paper or dirt in the middle of the circle.
  5. Resolve or agree to follow up on any issues.

Events

Reflections

  • Are you afraid of getting it wrong? Learn how to teach Aboriginal culture without tokenism on CELA.
  • How can you engage with the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community on a deeper level? How will this benefit the children?
  • How can you incorporate local Indigenous histories and knowledge into children's play and daily routines?
  • How are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending your service supported to learn about and be proud of their culture?

Resources

Little J and Big Cuz

Watch the television series online on SBS or ABC iView. Use the preschool teaching resources connected with the program.

Picture Books

  • Back On Country by Ellie Laing, Adam Goodes and David Hardy
  • Welcome To Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy
  • Tom Tom by Rosemary Sullivan and Dee Huxley

Music