Ruby’s journey at Okinja Early Learning Centre began in 2018 when she started in the Nursery. During her time in Nursery, she won the hearts of her educators, but little did they know the impact that she would have.

Five years ago, a small team of Early Childhood professionals from different organisations and community groups came together with the common goal of embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in the community. The group, Our Nangara Group, includes both First Nations and non-Indigenous members and was formed to fill a gap in the local community.

Cairns Regional Family Day Care engaged in an Innovative Solutions Project to help children and educators cope with trauma in culturally responsive ways.

Nobbs St and Park Avenue OSHC services in Rockhampton identified barriers within their services relating to challenging behaviours and engaged in an Innovative Solutions project to address these barriers. Upon completion of the Innovative Solution project educators observed positive changes in the children’s behaviours.

During reflective conversations with her Inclusion Professional (IP), the Director of Goodstart Burleigh Waters ELC, Lee, identified that while the service held knowledge around Aboriginal culture, they had limited insight into the Torres Strait Islander culture. Unsure where to start, they worked collaboratively with their IP on their Strategic Inclusion Plan (SIP) and chose a strategy to acknowledge and embed Torres Strait Island culture into the service.