O'Sullivan Beach Kindergarten

Our vision for reconciliation at O’Sullivan Beach Children’s Centre, located on Kaurna Land in the Adelaide Plains, is about actively acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as  the First Nations Peoples of Australia, as well as celebrating their contributions and continuing importance to society today. We recognise that, to move forward in our reconciliation journey, we must first accept the past and ask ourselves; What are we going to do about it? At OSBCC, we believe in being open and honest with children, by valuing them as the capable and competent citizens that they are, and not keeping history a mystery. This means truth telling the injustices and inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples since colonisation/invasion, while simultaneously recognising their strength and resilience. We are committed to finding authentic and meaningful ways to connect and engage with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, including past, present, and future families of OSBCC. We actively strive to form ongoing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples which are based on respect, trust, understanding and are of mutual benefit. We value the cultural and historical knowledge of Elders and Traditional Owners as we promote a learning environment and culture that is safe and supportive. We foster a sense of personal pride in all children’s cultural heritages and provide opportunities for children to celebrate their cultures with their peers. We believe that we can help our community gain a deeper understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures by educating our young children and their families through our everyday reflections, embedded practices, and connections with our local community in our journey towards reconciliation.