It is important to develop reconciliation initiatives that are not only consistently informed by, but which also have the potential to reciprocally and responsively inform, wider policy, protocol and planning documents.
Policies are helpful documents that can support schools and early learning services to transform intention into action. Some policies are statutory and schools and early learning services are legally required to adhere to them. Others, generally those developed internally, are important in the overall management and ethos of the particular school or early learning service, and the students or children who attend it.
In order to build a more equal and equitable future for all Australians, it is important to ensure policies are inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that the policies strive to increase knowledge of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in Australia. This is important even if there are no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or children attending the school or early learning service.
