How Rosedale Uniting Early Learning is embedding First Nations culture into its program

Rosedale Uniting Early Learning is a small rural kindergarten in South Eastern Victoria, who secured the Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award in last year’s Victorian Early Years Awards for its efforts in amplifying the voices and experiences of Koorie families and local community members.

Educators and leaders at the service take pride in embedding rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural aspects into their program.

Rosedale Uniting Early Learning has incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and resources into every area of learning, which early childhood teacher Pauline Dent describes as ‘sprinkling it’ throughout all areas of the program from songs and dancing, learning language, the arts, stories and truth telling, outdoor play, excursions and incursions.

This is strengthened by meaningful collaborative partnerships with Koorie Engagement Support Officers, local Aboriginal elders and community members who regularly contribute cultural knowledge to support the program.

Staff at the service also participate in diverse specialised training, from bush tucker to Aboriginal ways of learning, so they can pass on the richness of the oldest living culture to the children, their families and the broader community.

“Our service has been recognised by our local community, fellow professionals and the wider community as a leader in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our practice,” Ms Dent said. 

The service has shared their learnings through communities of practice and Yarning Circle meetings each term with local services within the Wellington Shire area.

Commenting on their award win the team said they were both ‘grateful and humbled’ to be recognised.

“As we are lifelong learners, we are always critically reflecting on ways we can progress and strengthen as individuals and as a team,” Ms Dent said.

“We are all on a continuous learning journey and will continue to share and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as our first Australians to our youngest learners and that we learn, play and grow on Aboriginal land.”

Learn more about the preschool here. Information on the VEYA Awards can be found here.