CommunityXchange begin culturally embedded learning place with ECEC

CommunityXchange, a close-working team of Elders, Aboriginal and Specialist educators, and administrators working together  is looking for seed funding to cover the first-year costs of its project to build an Indigenous Meeting Place and pre-school in Mt Druitt, Western Sydney.

The school will offer a program of learning via a culturally embedded learning place and school for children across the duration of their learning journey, delivering an inspiring approach to culturally relevant education for students and the broader Indigenous community.

The organisation’s first step is a pre-school and early learning place in Mt Druitt. Project leaders have found the perfect premises in Mt Druitt to begin the pre-school, but are in need of seed funding to cover costs for the first year. The community organisation is looking for support from people throughout NSW who believe in the essential role of education in building a future for Indigenous children.

CommunityXchange teacher Karen Isaacs said the school will become a new cultural circle.

“We have schools for all religions; we have Catholic, Anglican and Islamic cultural schools. Why, after all these years, do we not have an Aboriginal school that is self-governed by the Aboriginal people while we all live on this great spirit land?” she asked. 

“If Aboriginal students do not learn about this land and language, and how we interact with this land as the keepers of our culture, then how can other Australians gain access to that knowledge?”

The project will create a place where culture is represented in an authentic, contemporary way with families, elders and community members involved, engaged and contributing in every aspect of this place.

To learn more about the fundraising campaign, please see here.