Cultural and Diversity Context

Understanding the Cultural and Diversity Context

The culture and the language in Australia are diverse, with almost 50 percent of the population born to a foreign country or with one of the parents born abroad (ABS, 2021). As First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own knowledges, languages and attachment to Country. Children are refugees, migrants, multilingual, and may be affected by racism or exclusion, which leads to their reduced wellbeing and access to services (Hodge & McMahon, 2022).

Sociological theories will aid the educators in comprehending inequality. The critical race theory underscores the influence of systemic racism on outcomes of minoritised families (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), whereas the cultural capital theory by Bourdieu (1986) demonstrates that children of minority cultures can be at a disadvantage when under the influence of the dominant norms.

Practices during early childhood are the key factors that determine validation of identity and belonging. The educators should also have an ethical responsibility towards cultural safety (ACECQA, 2023).

Impact on the children and families

Cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) children can be affected by language barrier and alien norms or be excluded which can impact communication, relationships and wellbeing (Guo & Dalli, 2016). Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islanders are often systematically disadvantaged by colonisation, racism and intergenerational trauma, which in turn result into less interest in early education and lack of trust towards the institutions (Lowitja Institute, 2021; Department of Education, 2022). Trauma as a result of displacement can be carried by refugee and asylum-seeker children and they will need trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches to feel safe and supported (Ikon Institute of Australia, 2025).

Irrespective of this, cultural diversity is a beneficial input to early learning. Normalizing children by affirming them in cultural terms; and creating spaces that are inclusive, teachers build pride, resilience, engagement, and empathy, all to the advantage of students, as a whole (Hodge & McMahon, 2022).

Social Policy and Australian Responses

The Australian policy frameworks concern the inclusion and cultural responsiveness in the early childhood education: Early Years Learning Framework (V2.0) adopts the cultural competence and aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020) is intended to address the Indigenous children outcomes.

Multicultural Access and Equity Policy guarantees that government services are inclusive concerning cultures, and they are not discriminatory.

Nonetheless, cultural ignorance, language assistance, and workforce diversity are among the impediments to complete implementation. The means to reach these policy aims is to do something about unconscious bias and to make investments in the professional development.

Strategies for Practice

Establish culturally responsive relationships by having a two way communication with families. It is important to promote their stories, offer food, music, and culture as a way to increase the cultural awareness (Hodge & McMahon, 2022).

Be inclusive of the variety of languages by incorporating the use of home languages within songs, greetings, signs and books.This confirms the identity of the children and helps with language development (Guo & Dalli, 2016).

The local Elders and educators should be engaged in the partnership and collaboration to ensure the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldview. Make use of the actual processes and resources and narrations of the place (Narragunnawali, 2024).

Talk to pay off bias, as a team and reflect.The curriculum should have anti-bias education which will talk of stereotypes and assumptions (Ikon Institute of Australia, 2025).

Encourage professional development by training on cultural competence, inclusive pedagogy, and trauma-informed practice (ACECQA, 2023)

Community and Professional Partnerships

SNAICC-National voice of our children: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children voice, resource, educator training and development of resources.

Multicultural Resource Centres: Provisions of multi lingual resource, interpretation and culture orientation.

Refugee Council Of Australia: It is a policy advocacy and advice agency that is destined to serve better to families of refugee backgrounds. Reconciliation Australia: Service which offers assistance to create Reconciliation Action Plans on the platform, Narragunnawali.

Fields of Migrant Resource Centres: Support of settling of families, work, language courses and cultural identification. The collaborations do not just help in accessing the services to families but also build trust and cultural presence in the community (Hodge & McMahon, 2022).

Resources for Educators and Children

Projects, Programs and Websites that will be of use to the Educator.

Narragunnawali assists teachers and services to embed reconciliation and respect of the cultures of aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders. Narragunnawali - Narragunnawali Home

Reconciliation Australia promotes the knowledge and action of reconciliation and cultural awareness of the communities.Home - Reconciliation Australia

Raising Children Network Multicultural Parenting provides parenting information with an attitude of cultural diversity within a family. Raising Children Network

The organization providing the resources, and advocacy that addresses inclusion, diversity and culturally responsive practices in the early childhood settings, is Early Childhood Australia (ECA). Early Childhood Australia - A voice for young children

0-5 years to children book

Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy & Lisa Kennedy is a book that embraces the Aboriginal culture and invites the readers to Country, which creates respect to the Indigenous culture. https://readingaustralia.com.au/books/welcome-to-country/

I am Australian Too by Mem Fox preaches inclusivity and welcomes multicultural Australian identities and advises all children to belong. https://www.booktopia.com.au/i-m-australian-too-mem-fox/book/9781760276218.html

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald deals with the culture, belonging and adjusting to new places. https://larrikinhouse.com.au/products/my-two-blankets?variant=45605955338481

Same, But a Little Bit Different by Kylie Dunstan outlines the dissimilarities and commonality of children and promotes acceptance and recognition of diversity. https://www.windyhollowbooks.com.au/products/same-but-little-bit-diffrent?srsltid=AfmBOoozo8HLqsya2EHaTWW3M9U3XBy8eLtSlZcPAOSuBU7qpGQknHsW

children’s videos, educational shows, podcasts

First Nations stories and perspectives are presented with Little J & Big Cuz (NITV), which encourages the Indigenous culture and identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbYgNoV7Ng8

SBS learn Plum & Woo offers a variety of stories and contents which project multicultural Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwZ2XEoeqVc

Indigenous voices and stories, sharing cultural knowledge and understanding are featured in Noisy by Nature First Nations episodes of ABC Kids Listen. https://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/programs/noisy-by-nature

Raising Children in Multicultural Australia - Podcast series is a project aimed at guiding families and early childhood educators through cultural diversity in parenting and early learning and embracing it. https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/podcasts-and-webinars/podcasts

The tools enable educators to foster the knowledge, compassion, and resilience by acknowledging cultural diversity and Indigenous perspectives in the environment of the early childhood setting. They contribute to children understanding the value of differences, the creation of positive identities and a sense of belonging by helping them through inclusive stories, parenting support and the use of culturally responsive practices

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