(EYLF) Cultural responsiveness

Educators who are culturally responsive, respect multiple cultural ways of knowing, doing and being and celebrate the benefits of diversity. They honour differences and take action in the face of unfairness or discrimination. Being culturally responsive includes a genuine commitment to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in all aspects of the curriculum. Being culturally responsive also includes respecting and working collaboratively with culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. Cultural responsiveness is evident in everyday practice when educators demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing their own cultural knowledge in a three-way process with children, families and communities. 

Educators view culture and the context of the child’s family and wider community as central to children’s sense of being and belonging, and their successful lifelong learning. They assist children to be culturally competent and responsive by taking actions in the face of unfairness and discrimination. Educators collaborate with children, their families and members of the community to build culturally safe and secure environments and use this knowledge to inform their practice. 

Cultural responsiveness is more than awareness of cultural differences. It includes learning about multiple perspectives and diversity in all its forms, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, family and individual diversity. It is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. Cultural responsiveness encompasses: 

• awareness of one’s own world view and biases 
• respect for diverse cultures 
• respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as the nation’s custodians of the land 
• gaining knowledge of cultural practices and world views 
• communicating effectively and sensitively with people, recognising diverse ways of communicating and interacting across cultures 
• everyday practices, including routines and rituals 
• decisions and actions that are responsive to children and families’ context. 

Culturally responsive educators are: 

• knowledgeable of each child and family’s context 
• active in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in all aspects of the curriculum 
• implementing anti-bias approaches, including social justice approaches to address racism/bias in the setting/community 
• embedding democratic and fair practices in their setting, including the importance of being a responsible citizen 
• supporting children to take culturally responsive actions in the face of unfairness/discrimination 
• collaborating with colleagues, children, families and their communities to build culturally safe learning spaces.