18 OctWe stand in solidarity with First Nations communities across Australia
The outcome of last week’s referendum is not what we had hoped for at ELAA. We have been proud to support the constitutional
enshrinement of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and acknowledge the heartbreak felt by so many this week.
ELAA recognises the rich and deep history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their strength and capability informed by their ongoing connection to land, and their ways of raising, nurturing and educating children enduring throughout time. We celebrate the huge contribution that the First Nations community makes to the advancement of Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia as exemplified by services such as Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre who won this year’s NAIDOC Week ‘Education Award’ for their Aboriginal Early Years Education Program – a strengths-based, preventative and targeted early intervention service, that delivers a holistic education, health and wellbeing program to designed to support all children to reach their full human potential.
As allies, we respect whatever choices Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities make about their next steps.
We take solace in knowing that Victoria is the first Australian jurisdiction to commit and action all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart – Voice, Treaty and Truth. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is the independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners and First Peoples on the journey to Treaty in Victoria and we encourage you to learn more about Treaty in Victoria. CLICK HERE to read more.
ELAA remains committed to equity and excellence in early childhood education and care. Whilst we had hoped the nation would take this step forward, ELAA is committed to addressing how we continue to walk the path to reconciliation together and we will continue to promote self-determination.
The result from Saturday’s referendum underlines the need for all Australians to embrace the reconciliation process with First Peoples and ELAA will continue to play our part as we continue to work on our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Terri Smith
Interim CEO, ELAA
