Catholic Early Learning and Care, Cairns (CELC) has worked in partnership with CEED Healing & Kgari 3 Sisters since the beginning of 2023. This collaboration emerged from a connection established by Cairns Catholic Education Services Identity and Outreach Team. We knew at that time that we needed to provide Centre leaders with strong, purposeful and local support in understanding and embedding First Nations perspectives and that the right opportunity had been presented to us.
CELC leaders from our 15 services have, at this point in time, taken part in three On Country Gimuy Experiences. These were carefully and sensitively prepared for so all participants were comfortable with and open to what they were about to encounter. We have been focused on "Deep Listening - On Country".
The time we spend with CEED Healing & Kgari 3 Sisters guides us on our awesome journey of growth, collaboration and reconciliation. Our engagement has enabled our service leaders to grow their understandings of deep listening, meditation and connection to country. They have felt comfortable to engage openly with Uncle Henry, Auntie Susan and Auntie Karen in asking their questions and explaining their ponderings, new understandings and challenges.
CELC is grateful for this strong partnership, which we understand and value as an ongoing one. We look forward to planning workshops in different formats each year, as well as exploring opportunities for the children who attend our services to participate in cultural and language experiences with the team.
Our Centre leaders now feel a sense of authenticity in their cultural engagement, in how they embed real cultural understanding in their programs.
We are also grateful for the support of CEED Healing & Kgari 3 Sisters as each Centre progresses through the development of their Reconciliation Action Plan.
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