In this episode of Educator Yarns, Jessica Speaks with Rebecca Birch, educator and leader at Pottsville Community Preschool located on the Bundjalung Nation, Tweed Shire, Northern NSW. Rebecca discusses her Nature Explorers program which provides nature-based learning to not only the children of her service but to the broader community as well.

Today on The Educator Yarns, Jessica speaks with Cecelia Wright, Kaurareg woman, of Thursday Island, owner of Cultural Inclusion, about her work sharing and educating others about the lives and customs of the Torres Strait Islands and their people. Cecelia’s love and deep connection to her country is on display as she discusses the importance of spirituality, community and connection to one’s village as foundations of the Torres Strait Island people and their day to day.

On The Educator Yarns today, Jessica speaks with New Zealand educator Nicky and her experiences as a linguist and sign language interpreter within the Australian education system and Aboriginal communities Nicky speaks in detail about Two-Way Learning and the process’ by which children and educators are considered both teachers and students on equal footing. She also discusses the importance and empowerment of the child being able to share their own cultural knowledge.

Today’s Guest on The Educator Yarns is Primary School Teacher and Author Cathy Hope to talk about her work and study into string figures and string games. Drawing upon her wealth of knowledge and research, Cathy talks about the universal use of string figures in many first nations communities around the world but specifically how the use and similarities of the string figure designs are found and identified across many Aboriginal communities Australia wide.

Today Jessica speaks with Kelly and Rhi, about their work in  embedding Aboriginal pedagogy within their practice with children who have additional learning needs Drawing upon their own lives, family and educational experiences, they speak about the benefits of Country, and the importance of exposing children to the support of country. Kelly and Rhi discuss the importance of culture and the need to advocate for the culture of those that can’t advocate for themselves.

On Educator Yarns today Jessica speaks with Eliza, an educator working with under threes on Wurundjeri country in the Yarra Valley Eliza speaks specifically about how she began her journey into this often overlooked age group and ways she found using language and visuals to meaningfully connect children in a respectful manner to the Aboriginal Community that surrounds her service.

In this episode of Educator Yarns, Jess speaks with Anne Marie about her career in Early Childhood and the importance of building relationships when embedding Aboriginal perspectives in curriculums. Anne Marie considers her career and how through relationships she came to understand and respond to the importance of ethical decision making. She discusses her efforts in the support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business and ethical procurement practices.

Today on Educator Yarns Jessica speaks with Cassie Davis from Penrose Kindergarten Tarneit, Melbourne. Part of the Wyndham City Council of the Kulin Nations. Cassie talks about how her trip and time spent within the community of the Torres Strait Islands informed her passion and desire to embed a richer narrative of their culture within her centre and pedagogical practices. This cultural immersion experience sparked a deeper understanding of custodianship and sustainable practices within the...

Today on Educator Yarns Jessica is joined by Linda Price from Kinglake Ranges Children’s Centre on Taungurung land in Victoria Linda reflects on how drawing upon her own passion and understanding of seasons from her home in New Zealand equipped her to use the local Taungurung seasons to embed a deeper connection to local Aboriginal culture in her curriculum.

Today on Educator Yarns Jess speaks with Banjalang resident Cath Gillespie, educator and Director at Evans Head Preschool. Cath discusses the efforts that are made within the centre to allow children to connect with Country. Cath reflects on how this has created a deeper connection to the local Aboriginal community and has seen not only an increase in Aboriginal staff, but also in the knowledge that has been shared with the children from this community.

Today Jess Staines speaks with Alicia Hansen, a Menang Woman of WA country currently residing in Victoria where she works as an Indigenous Preschool advancement strategy facilitator across 83 different centres. Alicia talks about the importance of creating a welcoming and culturally safe service when facilitating Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander enrolments.

Today on Educator Yarns, Jessica Staines speaks with Mica Corscadden. Educator at Harrietville Bush Kinder on Dhudhuroa land in Victoria Mica talks about how her passion for country and nature lead her on a journey to connect with local community. Mica yarns about how she engaged the community in consultation to ensure authenticity and respect.

Today on Educator Yarns Jessica speaks with Marnie Omeragic, Director on Wangal Land in Sydney’s Concord West. Over the past several years Marnie and her team have worked towards embedding Aboriginal perspectives and creating a greater connection to Country. Marnie has seen their efforts transform their service from a place wanting to acknowledge and respect local Aboriginal culture to becoming a place of cultural safety for local Aboriginal families and community.

Today On Educator Yarns Jessica Speaks to educators Julia Timpson and Benny Thatcher, from Kelly’s Place Children’s Centre on Cameraygal Land. Julia and Benny discuss their approach to the Anti-Bias Goals as well as how the children they work with drew upon their understanding of identifying unfairness to enact several projects.

On today’s episode of Educator Yarns, Jessica speaks with Casey Goodman, from Wurundjeri Land in Brunswick Melbourne. Casey discusses her journey as Aboriginal Program leader across several services where she has shared her own passions and ideas of how to respectfully and meaningfully embed Aboriginal perspectives. Casey generously shares some of the challenges and celebrations on bringing other staff on the same journey.

Today on Educator Yarns Jessica speaks with Alix Hill, early childhood educator on Wurundjeri Land in Sunbury Victoria. Alix reflects on the navigation of inbuilt fears, common misunderstandings and an eventual realisation of obligation which lead to the creation of her teams Reconciliation Action Plan. This began a journey of a deeper more truthful embedding of Aboriginal Perspectives into their service.

Today’s guest on Educator Yarns is Sue Motley, Director of Armidale Community Preschool located on Anewan country in NSW’s New England Tableland. Sue shares with Jessica her extensive journey in embedding Aboriginal perspectives beginning with her visit and subsequent teacher exchange program with educators from Fitzroy Crossing in WA, along with her nature pedagogy network, Nature Play Conference and her discoveries on just how deeply country informs and connects us all.

On today’s episode of Educator Yarns, Jessica speaks with Narelle Davis, Director of Cooma North Preschool, on Ngarigo Land in the Snowy Mountains of NSW. Narelle talks about her journey and the insights learnt in connecting with the local community, the challenges and the rewards of persistence, genuine reflection and the importance of listening when seeking those connections.

Today on educator Yarns Jessica speaks with Donna Morley and tackles the big question, how exactly do we tackle the big questions. Donnas deep respect for children comes through in this interview as she discusses the importance of being honest, and open when answering the questions of children. Not only to establish a relationship of respect but also to acknowledge the big world questions the children do have and do want answers to.

In this episode I sit down and yarn with Kiya Watts, the artist behind ABC Playschool’s “Kiya” doll. Kiya Watts is a Menang, Gnudju, and Noongar artist residing in Albany.