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Over the past week, there have been two critical incidents in NSW, with heavy media coverage of both incidents. This may be impacting on your service’s children, families and communities.

The Big Situations resource includes links to free and practical resources to support educators to respond to situations such as this. When educators feel prepared to respond to big situations, they are more able to remain inclusive of all children and continue to deliver a quality program. We encourage you to access our Critical Incidents page here or please contact your Inclusion Professional if you would like support.

Hearing Children’s Voices

1 November 2020

Listening to children’s voices is more important than ever during challenging times. Educators need to know how children are perceiving and understanding issues that affect them in order to inform programming and practice. One area that is vital to children’s wellbeing and inclusion is belonging.

As educators your role is to create an environment where all children feel welcome and secure. Facilitating trusting relationships encourages children to express their thoughts and feelings in an empowered way. Listening to children and hearing what ‘belonging’ means to them, helps us to develop a curriculum that is responsive to individual needs and nurtures a sense of belonging.

As part of the NSW/ACT Inclusion Agency Children’s Voices project, we asked children some questions relating to the concept of ‘belonging’.

How do you know when you feel welcome?

When they let me in.

Rory 7 years

I know because it’s somewhere I like to be.

Monique 4 years

What do you think people should do to help new people feel welcome?

Cushions

Ellie 4 years

Talk to them, include them in your games and make them happy.

Layla 9 years

The Australian Government funded NSW/ACT Inclusion Agency is managed by KU Children’s Services, in partnership with Include Me and Gowrie NSW.

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