Yurauna Early Childhood Centre awarded as Exceeding NQS

Yurauna Early Childhood Centre, an early education service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children whose parents are studying at CIT Yurauna, has been assessed as Exceeding the National Quality Standards (NQS) in all seven quality areas. 

While CIT Yurauna is the lead agency with responsibility for the service, operations of the service are subcontracted to Northside Community Service, with direct funding from the ACT Government. 

The service is free to access, and has been described as “an example of the positive outcomes for children, families and the wider community when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are supported to lead and implement programs”. 

In a media release outlining the result, the Exceeding result was described as a success not only for Centre Director Mel Crawford, her educator team, and the CIT Yurauna community, but also for those programs which invest in addressing structural inequalities that have systematically disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children deserve free access to high-quality and culturally-safe early education, owned and led by community,” a Northside Community Service spokesperson said. 

“CIT Yurauna has had a long history of working to remove barriers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and Yurauna Early Childhood Centre has seen that approach extend to the youngest members of the community.”

In acknowledgement of the Exceeding status, Northside noted the generosity, patience, wisdom and guidance of Ngunnawal Elder and Director of CIT Yurauna Caroline Hughes, and the entire CIT Yurauna team.

“As we always say, we are guests in their space. We are supporting their children and families. This rating belongs to them as much as us.”

Further information about Yurauna Early Childhood Centre is available here.