2024 VEYA Finalist Series: The Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award

The Victorian Early Years Awards (VEYA) are an opportunity for the best and brightest Victorian early childhood professionals to be recognised for the exceptional contribution they make to early childhood education and care (ECEC). 

 

Now in the 19th year, the awards are an opportunity to showcase the inspiring work being done in the Victorian ECEC sector, with finalists exemplifying the vital work happening acrossthe sector. 

 

The Sector is running a series in the lead up to the announcement of the award winners on 7 November 2024, sharing a little more about each of the finalists across the nine award categories, and the significance of their achievements. 

 

This week we are showcasing finalists from the Continuity of Early Learning and The Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award categories. 

 

Continuity of Early Learning

 

This award recognises two or more early childhood services, schools and/or other organisations that support continuity of early learning through successful transitions.

 

Finalist – Pathways Program – Cobden and District Kindergarten (in partnership with Cobden Primary School, Cobden & District Playgroup and Cobden Maternal & Child Health)

 

Cobden and District Kindergarten’s Pathways Program focuses on enhancing children’s sense of belonging by supporting smooth transitions from early years to kindergarten and then school.

Developed in response to Australian Early Development Census data showing vulnerabilities in the local community, the program adopts an innovative social approach, partnering with the community to ensure a strong start to education. 

It provides parent education, outreach, shared pedagogical practices, and support for vulnerable families. Collaborating with Maternal Child Health services and playgroups, the program deepens families’ understanding of early education and boosts their confidence.

This community-centric, research-driven approach fosters collaboration and innovation, ensuring each child receives flexible, responsive support. Educators also benefit by establishing positive relationships with children and parents as they move through the education system.

 

Finalist – A Great Start to School – Go Goldfields (in partnership with Central Goldfields Shire Council, Maryborough District Health Service, Best Start, Loddon Early Childhood Improvement Branch and all Central Goldfields kindergartens and schools)

 

Great Start to School (GSTS) was launched through multi-sector workshops to improve educational outcomes for children in the Goldfields Shire, an area with significant socio-economic disadvantage and vulnerability.

The initiative, developed by the Department of Education, Central Goldfields Early Learning and Kindergarten Services, and Go Goldfields, with input from local schools and parents, addresses high levels of developmental vulnerabilities in social, emotional, communication, and language skills among children starting school.

GSTS created a comprehensive, shire-wide approach to early years’ transitions, focusing on knowledge sharing between educators and teachers. This approach provides insights into each child’s learning style, interests, and developmental milestones, enabling tailored support and personalised learning experiences from the start of school.

The program’s collaborative and coordinated approach provides a cohesive support system that maximises every child’s potential as they transition through their foundation years.

 

Finalist – Morwell Park and Our Place – Morwell Park Preschool (in partnership with Morwell Park Primary School and Our Place)

 

Morwell Park Kindergarten, Morwell Park Primary School and Our Place began a collaborative journey in 2023 when all 3 services co-located on the primary school premises. The aim was to improve educational outcomes for Morwell’s children, whose developmental risks were triple that of the state average.

Adopting a continuity of learning framework, teaching methods and programs were aligned across the 3 sites to provide seamless transitions and educational experiences. Equally important is providing wrap-around support to families. Our Place provides comprehensive support services including parent groups, family support, and allied health services.

With 75% of foundation children delayed in language and cognitive skills, they introduced the Talk Boost language program, which accelerated language skills by 18 months over 10 weeks. Other significant outcomes included greater access to early intervention supports and increased attendance by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, demonstrating the effectiveness of an integrated approach.

 

The Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award

 

This award recognises one or more early childhood service/s that are demonstrating holistic service provision that engages Aboriginal children and families. The service builds Aboriginal perspectives and amplifies the voices and experiences of Koorie families and local community members through partnerships that enable self-determination.

 

Finalist – Mandalay Early Learning Centre

 

Mandalay Early Learning Centre (MELC) utilise the Aboriginal pedagogy the “8 Ways Pedagogy” to embed Aboriginal perspectives in their curriculum, from the design of classroom environments to the selection of daily activities.

Collaborating with Koorie Education Support Officers, elders and Aboriginal lead organisations, MELC have incorporated authentic learning experiences and incursions into their program.

Activities such as teaching Woi Wurrung language and cooking with bush tucker, have broadened the children’s understanding of Australia’s first peoples.

Aboriginal perspectives colour all areas of the centre and workshops led by an Aboriginal Elder provide deep insights into history and cultural understanding for the children in the 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs.

MELC continues to enhance their practice through cultural meetings and educator’s personal development sessions, strengthening a culturally safe and inclusive environment for the children, families and educators.

 

Finalist: Rosedale Uniting Kindergarten

 

Rosedale Uniting Kindergarten is a small rural kindergarten that has embedded rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural aspects into their program.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources are incorporated into every area of learning including play, art and craft, language, maps, literature, music and movement. These are strengthened by meaningful collaborative partnerships with Koorie Education Support Officers, elders and community members who regularly contribute cultural knowledge to support the programs.

Staff 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, families and broader community.

Community feedback highlights the positive impact of the kindergarten’s inclusiveness on Koorie families. Rosedale Uniting Kindergarten leads the sector in integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and have shared their learnings through communities of practice and Yarning meetings each term with local services within the Wellington Shire area.

 

Finalist: Collingwood Early Years Precinct – Yarra City Council (in partnership with Yallabirrang Kindergarten, Keele Street Children’s Centre and Gold Street Children’s Centre)

 

The Collingwood Early Years Precinct (CEYP) is a partnership between 3 kindergartens that are strongly committed to embedding Aboriginal perspectives within their early years’ curriculums to enhance cultural awareness, inclusivity, and respect for diversity. CEYP takes a holistic approach to early childhood education, which is deeply connected to children’s cultural backgrounds and communities.

CEYP collaborates with Aboriginal communities for training and cultural insights. The 3 kindergartens now incorporate Woi Wurrung language learning and daily cultural activities, personalised Acknowledgments of Country, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC activities, and the inclusion of Indigenous ingredients on the menu, providing an opportunity for educators to discuss with the children bush tucker and how Aboriginal people acquired food.

The educators continuously seek opportunities to foster respect and inclusivity, and by incorporating Aboriginal perspectives, they broaden learning, promote cultural awareness and respect, contribute to an inclusive society, and importantly, create a sense of belonging for Aboriginal children.

 

The winners of the 2024 VEYA will be named on Thursday 7 November 2024. 

 

Learn more about the Awards, and view the finalists in all categories.

 

With the permission of family, the information below includes the name of an Aboriginal person who has passed.