Our jarjums reaching new heights

Early childhood educators at Story House Early Learning sit, yarn and plan for each child’s (jarjum’s) development. These yarns occur from saltwater country, over to the freshwater and across the flats and hills. This is no different to how our communities worked thousands of years ago. With the jarjum at the centre of each conversation, collaboration is developed by Commitment and Connectedness, depicted here with the same colours as used by Story House within their mission document. When we take our time to truly collaborate and truly listen, our jarjums walk to new heights, closer to the sun every day.

Dave Hartley – Indigenious Artist from the Barunggam People.

A message from Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia welcomes Story House Early Learning to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect RAP. Story House Early Learning joins a network of more than 2,500 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program. Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement. The program’s potential for impact is greater than ever, with close to 3 million people now working or studying in an organisation with a RAP. The four RAP types – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives. The RAP program’s strength is its framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities, allowing an organisation to strategically set its reconciliation commitments in line with its own business objectives, for the most effective outcomes. These outcomes contribute towards the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance. It is critical to not only uphold all five dimensions of reconciliation, but also increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and leadership across all sectors of Australian society. This Reflect RAP enables Story House Early Learning to deepen its understanding of its sphere of influence and the unique contribution it can make to lead progress across the five dimensions. Getting these first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey. Congratulations Story House Early Learning, welcome to the RAP program, and I look forward to following your reconciliation journey in the years to come. Karen Mundine Chief Executive Officer Reconciliation Australia

SHEL Reconciliation Action Plan

Relationships

Establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations. Build relationships through celebrating National Reconciliation Week. Promote reconciliation through our sphere of influence. Promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies.

Respect

Increase understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and rights through cultural learning. Demonstrate respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by observing cultural protocols. Build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories by celebrating NAIDOC Week

Opportunities

Improve employment outcomes by increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention, and professional development. Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes.

Governance

Establish and maintain an effective RAP Working Group (RWG) to drive governance of the RAP. Provide appropriate support for effective implementation of RAP commitments. Build accountability and transparency through reporting RAP achievements, challenges, and learnings both internally and externally. Continue our reconciliation journey by developing our next RAP.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan

Our organisation acknowledges that reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and we make a commitment to authentic, accountable, and actionable pathways as we reflect on our current situation and travel this pathway of reconciliation alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In November 2022, we began our authentic journey of reconciliation by establishing a Reconciliation Working Group (RWG) consisting of colleagues from Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. A Terms of Reference was established to guide our reconciliation journey, where the Term of Reference outlines the objectives of the Reconciliation
Working Group (RWG).

This group is a key to driving the strategic development, implementation of actions and the reporting cycle of Story House Early Learning’s Reconciliation Action Plan as part of our commitment to First Nations peoples.

The Story House Early Learning RWG takes a whole-of-community approach to foster reconciliation for all children, staff, families, and visitors. The working group will review information, discuss next steps, and make recommendations of actions moving forward to ensure our organisation actively promotes First Nations cultures, ways of knowing, and wisdom.

Story House Early Learning is committed to child safety, maintaining zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, or harm. (S2) We maintain a safe, secure welcoming environment by upholding the following:

We prioritize the safety, participation, and empowerment of all children. (S2, S3)
We expect that all staff, volunteers, contractors, families, and community members demonstrate respect towards each child and one another. (S1, S4)

Allegations of abuse, neglect, or harm, as well as complaints or safety concerns, are promptly, seriously, and consistently addressed, adhering to our legal and moral obligations to report to authorities. (S7)

We actively work to prevent child abuse, neglect, and harm through early identification of indicators and reduction of risk through regular review and amendment of policies, procedures, and physical and online environments. (S2, S9, S10)
We have robust human resources and recruitment practices to reduce the risk of child abuse from both new and existing management, staff, volunteers and contractors. (S6)
Regular training and education on child abuse indicators, risks, prevention, and reporting are provided for our management, staff, volunteers, and families. We encourage families and communities to promote child safety and wellbeing. (S4, S6, S8)
We are dedicated to the cultural safety and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as well as children from other culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds. (S1, S5)
We provide a safe and inclusive environment for children with diverse needs and disabilities. (S1, S5)
We support children and families from diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and circumstances, ensuring equal access and opportunities for all. (S1, S5)
Specific policies and procedures guide our management, staff, volunteers and contractors in fulfilling these commitments. (S11)