Flourishing on the margins: a study of babies and belonging in an Australian Aboriginal community childcare centre

Journal article


Harrison, Linda J., Sumsion, Jennifer, Bradley, Ben, Letsch, Karen and Salamon, Andi. (2017). Flourishing on the margins: a study of babies and belonging in an Australian Aboriginal community childcare centre. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. 25(2), pp. 189 - 205. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2017.1288015
AuthorsHarrison, Linda J., Sumsion, Jennifer, Bradley, Ben, Letsch, Karen and Salamon, Andi
Abstract

The colonisation of Australia brought significant change and interruption on the life-ways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including forced removals onto missions and reserves. The legacy of their dispossession is ongoing socio-economic disadvantage and racial discrimination within the dominant non-Indigenous culture. Indigenous people have survived and thrived, grounded by relationship to Country, family, and culture. Valuing and promoting these relationships is an essential first step in creating responsive, culturally respectful, and effective early childhood education and care (ECEC) services for young Indigenous children. This study, conducted in a Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service (MACS) in the state of Queensland, describes how relationships to family, culture and community were manifested in the day-to-day interactions of educators and children. Our reflections on babies’ experiences (and perspectives) centre on Aboriginal concepts of ‘the strong child’, multiple attachments with multiple caregivers, and children caring for each other.

Keywordsbelonging; infant–toddler education and care; Aboriginal childrearing and pedagogy; Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service (MACS); attachments to multiple caregivers
Year2017
JournalEuropean Early Childhood Education Research Journal
Journal citation25 (2), pp. 189 - 205
ISSN1350-293X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2017.1288015
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85014434824
Page range189 - 205
Research GroupSchool of Education
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File Access Level
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