National Reconciliation Week takes place annually between 27th May and 3rd June and is a time for all Australians to learn about the truth of Australian history and the depth of First Nations cultures and achievements. It is a time to explore how each of us can contribute to attaining reconciliation in Australia with First Nations people and communities. The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2021 was ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’. This theme encouraged all Australians to take action to achieve equality between First Nations and non-First Nations people.
Observed annually, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forcibly removed from their families and communities, who we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.
As part of our Out and About Program at Carlton Learning Precinct, children and educators used the multipurpose room to watch a video of Wurundjeri Elder Colin Hunter Jr, who welcomed us to Wurundjeri country and shared the significance of the Mana Gum leaves. We explored the beautiful grounds of Carlton Primary School for our own gum leaves which we then used to create the word ‘Wominjeka’ as a symbol of our respect for the Wurundjeri people and the connection between our classroom and the land upon which we learn.
To launch Reconciliation Week, our educators at Clare Court created a multi-lingual Acknowledgement of Country in their home languages.
Languages included Portuguese, English, Creole, Vietnamese, Hindi and Bengali.
On 2nd June all staff, educators and children took part in Wear It Yellow Day to raise funds for First Nations organisation, Children’s Ground – raising a total of $1,900.
At Clare Court, children from Wombat, Emu and Koala created individual artworks to sell and raise donations for Children’s Ground. Through ongoing conversations and stories around reconciliation, the meaning of ‘sorry’ and taking action, the children have been thinking about their connections with Country, which they represented through their artworks.
Wemba-Wemba Wergaia man, Dean Stewart generously shared his knowledge and experiences with our Children’s Program Team at The Harbour. We stood on the banks of the Birrarung, looking at Queens Bridge and were transported to a different time and place. Our next step is to engage with the Uluru Statement of the Heart and for the children to share age-appropriate experiences based on our new understanding.
Wednesday 2 September was Early Childhood Educators’ Day, and teams across our services received many lovely and kind messages from children and their families thanking our educators for all that they do.
Learn More about Early Childhood Educators’ Day 2026This year, our services celebrated Book Week and the theme of “Symphony of Stories” with colourful costumes and fun learning experiences. Here is a snapshot of how some of our services celebrated this year.
Learn More about Book Week 2026“I only know one thing… excited.” Five-year-old Frank summed up what starting school feels like for many children at Gowrie Clare Court.
Learn More about Strengthening Transitions to School at Clare CourtPenny, who lives close to Gowrie Oberon Kindergarten, lives with cerebral palsy. She uses a motorised wheelchair and communicates through a digital communication device.
Learn More about Building Community Connections at Oberon KindergartenGowrie at The Harbour recently hosted an incredible Winter Soup Evening that was planned and led by the children.
Learn More about Children Lead a Winter Soup Evening for Families at Gowrie at The Harbour
