Education is a powerful force for social change. Knowledge and understanding planted in the next generation will grow into genuine relationships, respect and opportunity — the foundations of reconciliation. This was the inspiration behind Reconciliation Australia’s recently launched education program, Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning.
Narragunnawali assists schools and early learning services from across the nation as they embark on their reconciliation journey. The program’s keystone, the online Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Developer, enables teachers to build a practical plan of action to better engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions in their centres and with the community. The online RAP developer is supported by teaching and learning resources that are aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
Teachers that commit to developing a RAP are first guided through a reflection survey. This helps teachers consider where they are on their reconciliation journey, as well as providing an opportunity to acknowledge the work that has already been achieved and allow consideration of future directions. Based on the results of the survey, the RAP developer assists teachers to determine practical ideas and basic actions to include in their RAP.
Reconciliation Australia CEO Justin Mohamed believes this scope for reflection on reconciliation achievements to date and selection of relevant RAP actions is one of the strengths of the Narragunnawali program.
“The RAP developer gives teachers the flexibility to build a unique RAP with actions that are appropriate for their particular education setting. This makes for an effective and appropriate tool that can be successfully implemented in very different schools and early learning services across Australia.”
While RAPs are tailored and unique to each school or early learning service, every RAP is implemented and driven by their RAP working group — a group of committed teachers and principals; early learning service teachers and directors; parents and broader community members. Including a broad range of stakeholders ensures that school and early learning services maintain a high level of commitment to building reconciliation in their communities.
“Each RAP working group is tasked with driving the RAP to increase respect, reduce prejudice and strengthen relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Mr Mohamed said.
“Through Narragunnawali I believe we can give all early learning services the knowledge and the confidence they need to facilitate the achievement of our vision for a reconciled nation.”
Join the Narragunnawali community at www.reconciliation.org.au/schools