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Let’s yarn about kindy
Let’s yarn about kindy is a campaign to promote kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families throughout Queensland.
Let’s yarn about kindy is a campaign to promote kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families throughout Queensland.
By prominent Elders and community leaders in Toowoomba and Cunnamulla, the Queensland Department of Education and ‘The Early Years Count’ team.
Elders and community leaders in Toowoomba have come together to have a yarn about kindy
Let’s yarn about kindy
Elders and community leaders in Toowoomba and Cunnamulla are sharing the importance of culture and education in the early years.
They are walking together with the Queensland Department of Education to make sure all children, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, have access to kindy.
Through the new Let’s yarn about kindy campaign, the Elders and leaders are encouraging more families to visit their local kindy, have a yarn with the educators, and enrol their child for a great start to learning.
Toowoomba leader, Jeff Chesters said kindy is the most important part of a child’s education.
‘These kids can learn from each other, they join together as a group of kids and learn,’ Jeff said. ‘This is the grounding they need, and if we don’t give it to them, then they’re not set up for the rest of their life.
‘Kindy is a big year, there is a lot to learn for them, but they leave us and go on to primary school more confident than ever now.’
Kindy is about the grounding they need
Cunnamulla Elder, Aunty Carol Mitchell said she was a strong believer in education.
‘I believe attending kindy is very important,’ she said. ‘It’s a good start in life. ‘It’s good for their little brains, they pick up all this stuff, they interact with the other kids, they get their own opinions.
‘By the time they get into Year 1, they’re experts.’
Aunty Robin Shipp, Aunty Zona Martin and Aunty Irene Bevin visit a kindy in Toowoomba
Read and listen to more of the stories from communities and find out why so many parents are choosing to enrol their child in kindy. Visit The Early Years Count website.
Find out when your child can start kindy by using the Kindy calculator.
Toowoomba Elders and community leaders
Elders and community leaders in Toowoomba have come together to have a yarn about kindy.
Jim Jackson – Local Elder – Toowoomba
‘It’s absolutely great to see all the kids in kindy and you see them all wide eyed. They come to kindy ready to learn and you can see it.’ Read more.
Aunty Zona Martin, Aunty Irene Bevin and Aunty Robin Shipp – Local Elders – Toowoomba
‘I just love to see little kids having fun, out there playing in the sandpit, they just love it,’ said Aunty Robin. Read more.
Jeff Chesters – Community Leader – Toowoomba
‘Kindy is the most important part of schooling. These kids can learn from each other, they join together as a group of kids and learn.’ Read more.
Kevina Suey – Community Leader – Toowoomba
‘Kindy is wonderful, just the things they teach. We’re giving them a big step up and empowering them, making them stronger and ready for school.’ Read more.
Laurie Stewart – Community Leader – Toowoomba
‘If they can start off in a good environment like a kindy they’ll succeed. You walk in here, it’s like home, it’s like a yarning circle all the time here, it’s bringing mob together.’ Read more.
Shandell Washington – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentor – Toowoomba
‘Having culture in early childhood is great for the little ones so they know where they came from and they can be proud of who they are.’ Read more.
Cunnamulla Elders and community leaders
Elders and community leaders in Cunnamulla have come together to have a yarn about kindy. Watch the video.
Uncle Cheesy Anderson – Local Elder – Cunnamulla
‘Early education is paramount to anybody’s development and growth, no matter what culture you come from.’ Read more.
Aunty Carol Mitchell – Local Elder – Cunnamulla
‘I believe all the littles ones should go to kindy and learn and interact with the other kids. By the time they get into Year 1, they’re experts.’ Read more.
Aunty Cindy Anderson – Local Elder – Cunnamulla
‘Early childhood is really important. Children are learning all the time, even two-year olds, one-year olds, they’re all learning from their parents.’ Read more.
Caitlin-Maree Spaul – Mums and Bubs Coordinator – Cunnamulla
‘Going to kindy helps them socially. Once they build their social skills it helps everything else. They go through all their school years with all the kids they met early on.’ Read more.
Let’s Yarn Campaign song
The kindy songline is about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the importance of kindy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The songline tells the story of a child’s time at kindy and how their family and community are an important part of their kindy experience.
The kindy songline and its elements are designed to be used on all marketing and communications materials that promote kindy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences.
The songline is available for partners and Queensland Government approved kindergartens to use on their products to support kindy participation.
If you would like to use the songline at your kindergarten or organisation, please contact The Early Years Count team at Early.Years@qed.qld.gov.au
They will be able to provide design advice and approval for use, in line with the kindy songline style guide.
For more information about the songline, visit the Big Learning Life website.
