At every stage of life, we all deserve an education that honours our potential and respects our culture. VAEAI’s main functions are providing advice on Koorie education issues, monitoring education trends and advocating for the needs of our community.
VAEAI launched two early childhood education resources during Reconciliation Week, 2020. These resources help educators create Koorie-inclusive learning environments that respect & reflect Aboriginal people, content & perspectives – benefitting the experiences of all children.
🔶Aboriginal Early Childhood Cultural Protocols was developed in response to requests for advice & direction regarding how to provide a welcoming educational environment for Victoria’s Koorie communities. They outline the foundational principles, procedures & behaviours requested of the early childhood education & care sector, in order to demonstrate respect to Koorie people.
🔷 Walking Together provides an introductory overview of Koorie people, communities, customs and protocols. It is the culmination of insights from professionals working in Aboriginal education and includes resources & suggestions for practice. Find out more HERE.
Aboriginal Education Activities have been developed by VAEAI to support children and families who are staying home during the spread of coronavirus. These activities are developed by community, for community. They are not intended for use in classrooms or schoolwork. These creative activities are connected to culture and can be done at home using household materials.
If you want to share your creation with our VAEAI family, post it using the #activitiesbyvaeai and we’ll share it on our social media pages! You can email pictures or videos to vaeai-communications@vaeai.org.au for us to share. We’ll need parent’s permission, so make sure to fill out this permission form and send it with your pictures.
For an overview of VAEAI’s Education Resources, click HERE. For more information, explore the website HERE.
Framed around significant events throughout the calendar year, the interactive Koorie Education Calendar has been developed by VAEAI to assist educators & learners alike. The Calendar draws the learner to Victorian Koorie voices, stories and achievements, and features Koorie leaders, artists, authors, playwriters and more. It is updated annually and can assist schools in planning for key events and locating information about Victorian Koorie cultures, histories and perspectives. Designed to be printed on A3 paper. For more information, please contact vaso@vaeai.org.au.
We strongly recommend consulting with Aboriginal people and Aboriginal sources for information. Where available, your local LAECG is a good first point of contact and VAEAI can assist with contacts. Try to work with local community people and Elders, and always respect their intellectual and cultural property rights.
VET, Higher Education & Training Unit (Wurreker)
Through the Wurreker Strategy and its partnership with the Victorian Government, VAEAI provides advice on the training needs of Koories across all industry groups.
