Mt Isa Day Nursery and Kindergarten

The development of MIDNKs Reconciliation Action Plan began in January 2025, guided by a shared vision to deepen our understanding, relationships, and respect for First Nations culture within our service and community. Our RAP was created collaboratively by our RAP working group with guidance and contributions from our local community members, the Parent Management Committee, and Kalkatungu Elders. For us at MIDNK, reconciliation means creating purposeful welcoming spaces for learning, listening to the stories shared by the local Kalkadoon community and First Nations people who move to our area, and actively addressing the ongoing impacts that colonisation has First Nations people.      At MIDNK, we are committed to creating meaningful pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through employment, culture, and community participation. We will increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, including roles in cultural teaching, First Nations art, and Bush Kindy programs. We will support professional development and leadership for staff and community members. By engage local Elders, families, and cultural organisations we will embed programs that share cultural knowledge. Collaborating with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and suppliers will strengthen community connections and ensure we create respectful, reciprocal, transformational relationships. We will invite children and families to share stories and experiences, including through initiatives like Walking Gently on Country. These initiatives help embed culture across MIDNK while creating lasting opportunities for our staff, children, and community.      At MIDNK, a reconciled Australia looks like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians being treated equally with respect and it feels like healing, unity and shared purpose. It feels like a service and community that is inclusive, where every persons culture and history is valued.