TG´s children are supported by the wisdom of indigenous cultures on their learning journeys.
Did you know that TG's curriculum is supported by the RAP and the EYLF?
Reconciliation Action Plan
So first of all, RAP stands for Reconciliation Action Plan and it is how TG's has been implementing indigenous programs in all of their centres. It is a way to boost our sustainability values and help children go even further in eco and social intelligence.
Looking back into Australia's history, the infinite indigenous wisdom lying there is something TG´s educators have been tapping into in fun and creative ways. And the children are loving it!
TG's children have been looking at how they impact the environment, social aspects and economy of their locations in a way that is relevant and identifiable for them. The children are always curious and hungry to know more and when they are aware of their ability to make a difference in caring for the planet or their communities, they want to do more!
This is how at TG's, children become well-rounded young citizens who form meaningful connections with their world through belonging, being and becoming.
Early Years Learning Framework
We haven't forgotten about the EYLF. That stands for the Early Years Learning Framework.
It is from the Australian Government's Department of Education which dictates five major outcomes that extend and enrich children’s learning from birth to five years and through the transition to school.
These are the five outcomes from the EYLF:
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Children are confident and involved learners
Children are effective communicators
TG's curriculum is flying high with RAP on one wing and EYLF on the other wing. Every day at TG's, the children engage with our dedicated and experienced team of educators who are designing quality outcomes for the children, supported by the RAP and EYLF to encourage and equip the children with the skills they need as they navigate through life. This is how TG's nurtures a life-long compassion, love and respect among the children for themselves, their environment and their communities.
Let's take a look at all the amazing activities TG's has been doing with the children! You may well be inspired to want to join in after you look at all the fun we have been having at TG's!
TG's Children Leading the Way with Indigenous Activities
TG's Child Care at Urangan, Queensland:
At TG's Urangan, we have been incorporating Butchulla culture into our curriculum.
The children go on fortnightly Beach and Bush Kindy Excursions to explore and listen to stories from the Butchulla culture on their walks. The Butchulla's three lores align beautifully with TG's sustainability values (social, economic and environmental).
NAIDOC Week is another event TG's children love taking part in.
The children learn about the "Heal Country" commitment and they feel pride in their sense of responsibility in taking care of their environment. Children are quick to realise and understand how a single action on their part can impact others. During the excursions to see K’Gari (Fraser Island) Fisherman's Park, the children could explore the sand and sea life and it has become their little mantra to remind each other “We only leave footprints”. It is a genuine respect they have taken on to ensure they take care of the ocean to keep it clean and free from rubbish.
TG's Child Care at Wauchope, New South Wales:
At Wauchope, we are absolutely in love with the beautiful aboriginal mural done by artist Jamie Donovan.
Come visit our centre and you'll see that his mural tells the story of all the families and their journeys as they travel to TG's every day. TG's is a central meeting point, where everyone here is taken further on their learning journey.
Jamie has incorporated into the mural the traditional Gathang Language, which is the language of the Birrbay, Warrimay and Guringay people. There are also images that draw on everyone's connection to the country and showcase the totems from the region in the community. The abundance of stories related to these totems is something that becomes part of the children's learning journeys.
Educators use the murals as part of the children's learning journeys. If you have a question about these murals, you can ask any TG´s child. They have become little experts in indigenous cultures and we are so proud of them!
We encourage the children to be connected with Aboriginal culture, arts and crafts, stories, bush tuckers and an appreciation of the flora and fauna. Aboriginal people share stories and art as a way to foster learning. And as we well know, the children at TG´s love a good story and are always ready to get curious and explore with their hands to create!
And here's a little sneak preview - Jamie is currently designing a work shirt related to the mural for our educators! We can't wait to see what he's going to do!
Celebrating cultural diversity and inclusivity is a vital element of reconciliation at TG's.
Everyone belongs and there is something we can all contribute. Each child and educator at TG's is listened to, respected, and treated with loving kindness. It is how we create a safe space for everyone to be themselves. It is about recognising and encouraging each other's gifts.
As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's First People who play a significant part in shaping Australia's history and shared identity, we incorporate their contributions and cultures into our curriculum. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where TG's is located, the people of the Birpai nation and we extend that acknowledgement to elders past and present and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan is a formal statement of commitment to reconciliation and outlines a whole-scale approach to driving reconciliation by building relationships, respect and opportunities throughout TG's and with our community.
The Preschoolers are our bubbly bunch who are familiar with Aboriginal culture in their daily activities. TG's builds strong connections with local Birpai People by inviting them to share their culture with the children. Angela Roberts from The Bunya Land Council visited the children, sharing her knowledge of the local areas and stories and meaning behind special places such as the Bago mountain. She also shared her love and talent for art with the children by creating a beautiful group artwork.
We also took the children to visit the beautiful Cowarra Dam. There, they observed beautiful sculptures created by local Aboriginal artists. These are activities rich in opportunities for the children to open up and get curious and spark off many conversations.
The children celebrated NAIDOC week with activities such as nature weaving, bush tucker, aboriginal art and paintings, and of course, no cultural exploration is complete without (aboriginal) music. Through sensory experiences, the children explored and got to know more about aboriginal culture through smell, touch, sight and sound.
'Heal Country' is a theme running through all that TG's children do. The activities provide a space for the children to create stories and artwork that focus on the country and the flags that represent the traditional custodians. They are also creating their own nature frame that represents the environment they live in.
After all the exploring and creating, little tummies can get hungry too and aboriginal cuisine has since become quite a favourite with everyone!
The children made traditional lemon mertyl biscuits, damper with bush tomatoes and parsley cooked over a campfire. While their damper was cooking, the children sat around the fire with lunch and explored how Aboriginal people told stories through sounds and music. One of the children's fathers, Jarod, was invited to come in and play his Didgeridoo! After all, good food needs good music to spice up the mood!
TG's Child Care at Uralla, New South Wales:
Every fortnight, the children at TG's Uralla listen to Aboriginal stories and learn the concept of reconciliation, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and history.
It is about respecting, honouring and celebrating First People's cultures and contributions. To live together in harmony, it is necessary to respect our similarities and differences, and also to celebrate with joy each other's cultures and traditions.
TG's Child Care at Armidale, New South Wales:
At TG's, everyone is an expert at bringing fun into the play spaces - even the educators!
As a way to embed reconciliation at TG's, their uniform has been jazzed up with new shirts inspired by Nick Levy’s amazing artwork! Look at what TG's Armidale's staff is so proud to wear here!
TG's Armidale got to know about Nick's artwork from one of TG's families during a Show and Tell. This started off a series of conversations and that brought about embedding simple reconciliation practices into their daily curriculum.
For each of the rooms in TG's Armidale, the children do an acknowledgment to country throughout the day. They also explore with natural resource materials, linking this to aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Aboriginal symbols are introduced to the children. TG's educators are given the tools to develop the confidence to teach the children about Aboriginal culture. They have an Aboriginal Early Years Support worker from Pathfinders who comes in fortnightly to spend time with the children. Everyone shares ideas of how to embed different learning experiences into the rooms at TG's. Everything contributes to TG´s Armidale's Reconciliation Action Plan for indigenous teaching.
A Learning Journey from Past to the Future
It is important for TG's children to know about, understand, and appreciate the past as they take little steps towards their beautiful futures.
Introducing indigenous culture into the curriculum is part of identity building for the children. They are connected to their culture, their past, their community, and to their environment. By showing the children how people took care of each other and their environment in the past, TG's children are shown the way to go forward to make a better future for their planet and their communities.
This is how TG's children are leaving their own gentle footprints in the history of the planet. They are learning to act responsibly to improve its health, so generations on can have a better future.
TG's children are always so eager to help and give their best. We give them the gift of a strong sense of wellbeing when the children realise they have the gifts and opportunities to contribute to their world in a way that benefits everyone and allows their communities to thrive. When children become empowered with this knowledge, they become confident learners who are curious and hungry to learn more. They want to be involved because they know they can and want to make a difference.
The next time you have a question about indigenous culture, feel free to ask one of TG's children. They will be delighted and very excited to tell you all about it!
TG's Child Care locations and contact details:
Urangan QLD
+61 (07) 4184 2282 | urangan@tgschildcare.com.au
61 Miller St, Urangan, QLD 4655
Armidale NSW
+61 (02) 6772 7810 | armidale@tgschildcare.com.au
11 Samuelson Crescent, Armidale NSW 2350
Uralla NSW
+61 (02) 6778 3369 | uralla@tgschildcare.com.au
23B John St, Uralla NSW 2358
Wauchope - Hastings St NSW
+61 (02) 6585 1033 | HastingsStreet@tgschildcare.com.au
33B Hastings St, Wauchope NSW 2446
Wauchope - High St NSW
+61 (02) 6585 3331 | HighStreet@tgschildcare.com.au
223A High St, Wauchope NSW 2446
Wauchope - Riverbreeze NSW
+61 (02) 6585 2981 | riverbreeze@tgschildcare.com.au
3 Riverbreeze Drive, Wauchope NSW 2446
Book a Play Date with TG's Child Care at Urangan, QLD
About TG's Child Care
As one of Australia's leading early learning Kindergarten and Long Day Care providers,
TG's Child Care is dedicated to its philosophy of “Quality Lifelong Learning, where
Playing is Learning for Life.” Children attending TG's Child Care are encouraged to
experience a love and joy of learning throughout their time there and are equipped
with skills and tools to continue their personal growth long after they’ve left. In
addition to the Urangan campus, TG's Child Care has five others in New South
Wales: in Armidale, three in Wauchope, and in Uralla.
We are at 61 Miller St, Urangan, Hervey Bay, QLD.
Telephone: (07) 4184 2282
TG's Child Care Urangan is licensed for 73 places for children 6 weeks to 6 years. We are open 52 weeks a year except for public holidays from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm.