Orange City Council joins ‘All In’ Program

Orange City Council’s Children’s Services staff have joined the ‘All In’ Program to promote positive messages about gender equality and inclusion amongst children.

‘All In’ has been designed to support young children to develop healthy, respectful relationships and value people of all genders, and was developed by the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) in Redfern.

WAGEC’s director of Primary Prevention, Moo Baulch firmly believes early childhood educators have an important role to play in challenging gender stereotypes and harmful gender roles.

“We know that children start internalising messages around gender and stereotypes at a very early age, in fact, during early childhood years. Early education centres are absolutely critical to ensuring children grow up without limitations placed on them by gender stereotypes,” she said.

“We are truly inspired by the educators who attended the All In project workshop in Orange.

“We saw how deeply committed educators were to the same objectives; to encourage healthy and respectful relationships in children during the early years so that they may grow up in safety, respect everyone as equals, and ultimately thrive.

“Council centres such as Orange illustrate how a partnership between council and primary prevention efforts like the All In Project can effectively challenge one of the main drivers of gender-based violence in NSW.”

The Children’s Services staff will receive ongoing support from WAGEC to implement the program across Council’s children’s services.

‘All in’ explores how  play, language, resources and storytelling can promote positive messages about gender equality and inclusion in children aged under five years of age, and Orange City Council’s Director of Community Recreational & Cultural Services Scott Maunder hopes the program will play an important role in preventing family violence by developing positive behaviour in children at the centres.

Eleven educators from Council’s Spring Street, Yarrawong and Courallie early education centres attended a workshop conducted by WAGEC where they gained the knowledge, confidence and skills to challenge harmful gender roles and stereotypes that impact children in their care, going on to implement the program in their practice. 

“It’s important to encourage healthy, respectful relationships in children from an early age, as well as supporting our educators to reflect on their own language and think about how unconscious bias could add to harmful gender stereotypes,” Mr Maunder said.

“Programs such as this are vital in creating change and providing a long-term solution to prevent gender-based violence in the next generation.”

Image shows educator Shelly Bugden reading an inclusive book to children.