A message from the Chair
At this important time in Australia’ s evolution, we as a country are accepting our responsibility to acknowledge and reconcile with this country’ s First Nations peoples, and at KU Children’ s Services we are deeply committed to this action.
As an original pioneer, and now a leader in the early childhood sector, KU is taking an active role in this emerging dialogue of recognition and reconciliation. Informed by a considerable process of consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, our staff and stakeholders, we are pleased and proud to be launching our KU Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Through our continual commitment to progressive and engaging early childhood education programs, KU has always embraced and advocated for change that benefits the lives of all our youngest Australians, and our Reconciliation Action Plan recognises our critical role in facilitating that change through the education of the next generation.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan, presented with the full support of our Board, conveys KU’ s ongoing learning and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander histories, cultures and communities, and reflects KU’ s deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. In this sense, our vision for reconciliation is directly influencing the way we continue to shape and evolve KU, and as we nurture the creators, thinkers and doers of today and tomorrow.
As Chair of KU at the time of this significant milestone in its history, I am proud on behalf of the Board to endorse KU’ s commitment to this Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
A message from the CEO
David McCracken Chair, Board of Directors
Last year throughout KU, we celebrated 120 years of our strong and unwavering commitment to providing high quality education and care programs to young children since our foundation in 1895. To mark the occasion, we published a commemorative history‘ As the twig bends, so the tree grows’, which captures the growth and diversification of KU over 120 years, whilst remaining strongly grounded in our values.
As we move forward into a new era, I am immensely proud that the publication of the KU Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan is a significant milestone throughout the whole organisation as we commit to promoting positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and indeed all Australians. We are proud to see the tree of learning, that so aptly reflected our 120 year journey, also reflected within the artwork commemorating and adorning the Reconciliation Action Plan.
We also acknowledge we have much to learn from our First Nations peoples; cultures rich in family and kinship; a strong sense of belonging to and caring for their country; and a history that goes back for thousands of years; long before KU’ s story began.
As the most experienced provider of high quality early education in Australia, we know the importance of a child’ s early years and value the child’ s family as their first and foremost educator. The Early Years Learning Framework( EYLF) Belonging, Being and Becoming reflects our approach as we work in partnership with families; understand the importance of relationships and belonging; value children as they are in the here and now; and know that the experiences we provide to children will have an impact on their future love of learning and the ultimate success of our nation.
Thank you to the many people in KU who contributed to this important document, particularly members of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, led by Gisella Wilson, Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs. Our work in developing this Reconciliation Action Plan will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures and histories are appreciated and reflected throughout KU as we continue to strengthen our commitment and practices of reconciliation.
Christine Legg Chief Executive Officer