Acacia Children's Centre - St Albans

Acacia has demonstrated ongoing leadership towards reconciliation and strengthening the respectful implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perspectives in Early Childhood Education.  We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are connected to the oldest surviving cultures in existence and are the First Peoples of the Lands across Australia. As educators, we ensure that children and families access honest histories, current perspectives and practices that respectfully reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and languages. Through providing opportunities for cultural celebrations and practices, our educators, children, and families are becoming aware and responsive of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. 

Acacia is committed to keeping children safe which further reinstates that we as a community look after and respect all individuals and stand up to undesirable behaviour and actions including bias, stereotypes and prejudice by inspiring action. We acknowledge that our educators, children, family, and wider community are all at different stages of their reconciliation journey and in their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. 

We aim to create a stronger connection with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by attending more cultural related events in our local community. By this, we hope to build a stronger relationship with Elders present within our community. We walk this journey together in building a strong sense of community of learners so that our children will have a positive outlook and become advocates for reconciliation and positive and sustainable change in practices and attitudes.  Acacia shows continuous commitment to this vision through the implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan, adopting strategies to promote cultural responsiveness in our pedagogical practices.