In the Loop Winter 2016

The cultural conversations and training sessions that
we have provided across Queensland have often been the
place at which we have witnessed educators’ early steps on
a journey toward cultural competence. In these sessions, we
have always attempted to provide an environment in which
educators would feel safe, free of judgement, supported and
inspired to acknowledge their own challenges when it comes
to working with diversity and where they could begin to
plan the way forward to truly inclusive practices. Thank you
to the many educators who have challenged and stretched
themselves to grow in cultural competence. Thank you also
to those champions in many childcare services and industry
bodies who have supported and promoted these sessions.
When the elderly ones in a house travel, the
younger ones quickly grow in experience.
NIGERIAN PROVERB
Over the years, our “Multicultural Calendar” proved to be
very popular by all our stakeholders. This “just in time” resource
for the educators and Inclusion Support Facilitators provided
opportunity for the services to celebrate the special days around
the world, open the communication lines with the families about
special days in their family/community and invite them to the
services to participate or/and organise these special events.
“One mum, who is originally from China, came
to our centre to help us make dumplings as part of
Chinese New Year celebrations. She thanked us
for making her feel welcome and for supporting
their culture”
EDUCATOR
Social media and online communication were an
important strategy for us in terms of providing “just in time”
resources to educators and ISFs. In the last few years we have
enjoyed establishing a fledging online community. Our ultimate
aim was to give general cultural information about building
cultural capacity and sustainable practice through all mediums,
including virtual platforms. Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube
have allowed us to supply a large range of materials including;
key word tutorials, bilingual songs, fact sheets, programming
guides, information, examples of best practice and exercises to
encourage reflection.
We have also been awed by the strong leadership and support
provided by Inclusion Support Facilitators (ISFs) across the
state. The role that ISFs have played in our work with services is
crucial. Helping directors to form their “masterplan” for cultural
inclusion and being an integral person for getting the right
CSW to the service at the right time, sometimes literally picking
that CSW up from the bus stop and driving them to the centre.
Thank you for being the architect, instigator and the web that
has kept educators connected with services like ours. Thank you
for supporting and advocating for our program.
We thank our partners at the Workforce Council for what
has been a highly enjoyable and productive partnership. The
many conferences, presentations, cultural conversations and
networking events that we have worked on together have been
truly supportive and stimulating collaborations. We are so
grateful for this opportunity and the journey we shared over
the years, witnessing on our way to many changes in practice
towards more culturally inclusive service provision and proud
to see the movement towards a more accepting, curious and
welcoming next generation of Multicultural Australians.
We say goodbye with heartfelt thanks for all that you have
achieved in embracing our diverse families, children and
communities. We say this with conviction that in every end
there is a new beginning. In the future there will be new
support available to educators as they journey to more inclusive
services. However, it is equally important to look to those
leaders who are already succeeding in their services and in
their diverse communities. Reach out and as for this support
and also reach out to these leaders because each and every
educator is vital to this change.
The real change will start with you, from your own
drive and the willingness in your heart to embrace
difference.
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IN THE LOOP