Using Elders’ wisdom to guide your practice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this resource may contain images, audio or names of people who have passed away.
In this episode, Aboriginal Elder Millie Penny shares her story of resilience, and how she has fought (and continues to fight) to support the needs of Aboriginal children.
Millie is joined by Carol Michie of Telethon Kids, who shares how Millie’s knowledge and that of a group of Elders in WA has guided the Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort (Our Children, Our Heart) project.
Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort designs and develops locally-based early years programs and interventions for the wellbeing of Aboriginal children in Western Australia. The project focuses on identifying the foundations for raising strong, healthy children – the values, priorities and beliefs around child-rearing and the factors considered critical to building children’s health, confidence and resilience.
In this episode you will learn:
- the importance of including the voice and wisdom of Elders when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- strategies from the Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort project, and how the team used cultural protocols and processes to support a community-driven initiative
- the importance of cultural identity and cultural practices to support the wellbeing of Aboriginal children, including language, connection to Country, kinship and Community.
Further information and resources
- Empowering parents and carers to improve cultural security in early education settings project (Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort – Our Children, Our Heart project)
- Empowering parents and carers to improve cultural security in early education settings project research findings (Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort – Our Children, Our Heart project)
- Parent/carers resource to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s cultural needs in early education and care (Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort – Our Children, Our Heart project)
- Honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in healing family violence framework guide (Emerging Minds)
The preferred terminology used by Emerging Minds in our resources is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, as guided by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing National Consultancy Group.