Actions
At KU Osborne Park Preschool, we acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nations peoples of Australia and the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Lands on which we live and learn. On this Land, the Cammeraygal people have continued to teach children important values, knowledge and cultures, and in our work with children we seek to do the same.
As the Cammeraygal people have done before us, and continue to do to this day, we endeavour to connect with and care for the Land and all the living things we share it with. As part of the oldest surviving cultures in the world, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ respect for Mother Earth and ecologically sustainable ways of life has allowed survival for over 65 000 years. We are now, more than ever, acutely aware that the earth does not have an endless supply of resources and reserves; for this reason, respecting and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachings and values of taking care of the earth, not taking more than you need, and not destroying anything that cannot produce again, are learnings and values we all need to live by.
We believe that shifting our mindset towards one of reconciliation and respect allows us to move forward as a nation, building relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community and journeying together towards “a future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility” (2008 National Apology). In our everyday work with children, we aim to respectfully and authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives, values, cultures and teachings.
At KU Osborne Park, we value the rich cultural histories of Australia. We recognise the diversity and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in the face of historical injustices, such as the impacts of colonial policies and practices on the land, children, languages, health and family and kin. We understand that we are uniquely placed within our community to support young children and their families on their reconciliation journey. By not keeping history a mystery and by accepting and acknowledging the shared and often difficult truths of our past, we can create a more just, equitable and united Australia.