STATEMENT OF APOLOGY AND COMMITMENT TO ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
Bauer Street Community Children’s centre acknowledges the loss of family, cultural identity, land, language and community of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders through the policies and practices of Australian governments, organisations and people.
We acknowledge the findings and support the recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Report Bringing Them Home (1997).
We unreservedly apologise for the ongoing suffering and loss that these policies and practices have caused to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, parents, families and communities.
We recognise the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s home cultures as crucial to their identity and developing sense of self-worth.
We recognise the importance of the role of early childhood services in respecting and working with young children to support their identity in this regard.
We recognise the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures as part of the cultural heritage of all Australians.
In honouring reconciliation Bauer Street Community Children’s Centre makes a commitment to an ongoing process that:
- Actively seeks advice and input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
- work practices that are respectful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and actively challenges insensitive and biased attitudes, practices and behaviours;
- Ensures our work with early childhood services promotes practices which demonstrate sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s social and cultural backgrounds;
- Promotes practices that ensure inclusion of parent and family values in caring for and educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in early childhood services;
- Promotes the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in all children’s services.