The Issue or Desire
Learning Circle 6 inspired the Coordinator of Scallywags Children’s service, in Derby, to support children’s cultural knowledge and language through contact with Elders in the community.
Scallywags Children’s Service wanted to develop more culturally responsive practices by inviting Indigenous community Elders from Jalmadanga, near Derby, to tell stories to the children at the centre.
These were the areas identified to strengthen:
1. ways to make transition times less stressed.
2. ways for staff to work more as a team.
3. ways to have more cultural activities.
Update: June 2008-February 2009
The centre has received training from various sources over the past year, which has been difficult to implement due to disharmony among staff. Over a period of time staff moral deteriorated, which impacted on service delivery, quality of the program, and parent confidence.
Scallywags undertook a review, facilitated by CSSU, to determine an action plan for strengthening the service in particular areas. These included:
• Redirecting children’s behaviour
• Programming
This could be delivered through one-off training or through on the floor mentoring and role modelling for staff. Support and mentoring for coordinator was also noted.
Actions Taken
CCC consultant Heather Lawrence contacted the coordinator and offered a Learning Intensive over the next three months that could support the learning and changes the Centre wished to make.
Noelene accepted the offer with the proviso that they were not forced to do things they did not feel they were ready to take on.
Noelene shared her concerns about taking things slowly both for her staff and for herself. She described her arrival in Derby and taking up the role of Coordinator of the Scallywags (the Derby Shire Council funded centre) as being such a big learning curve.
Noelene shared: ”Before I came to Derby I had never met an Aboriginal person. It never occurred to me how much I would have to learn about other cultural ways
and that there were more things I could do in the program. I feel so ready for it now but it has taken some time and I don’t want to force my staff to take it on if they are not ready.”
There was an agreement between Noelene and Heather to take it slowly and to find out what things the staff wanted to change and what things they would like to learn more about before the first learning intensive.
Staff reported that the things they wanted to do were:
1. Learn ways to make transition times less stressed.
2. Learn ways for staff to work more as a team.
3. Find ways to have more cultural activities.
The first learning Intensive was held between the 11th June- 14th June.
Over three days and two evenings, staff came together to discuss the key principles they wished to underpin the practices in their daily experiences in the centre. Staff felt strongly that they want Scallywags to be a happy place where families can feel supported.
Noelene wants families to feel they can come for coffee and stay on if they need and that children are happy and stress - free each day. Maddy, an Indigenous staff, expressed her desire for the children to go outside more often and to do more cultural activities. Another Indigenous staff, Jo, said she wanted things to run more smoothly at transition times and to get along with all staff members.
Staff chose priorities from the qualities they wanted to work on with the children.
Their first decision was to find ways for children to be included in transition times, to develop independence and to work together with adults. Ideas such as children washing down tables, sweeping up, setting the table and collecting their own lunch.
All these things were tried the next day and since then Noelene reports that they have made lots of changes.
They are especially thrilled with the decision to have multi-age groups and to open the indoor-outdoor area. Staff believe these changes have led to everyone feeling more calm. Noelene was pleased to report that the parents have commented how happy and relaxed everyone is. Noelene has encouraged Maddy to think of activities for NAIDOC week.
Maddy has asked her father to come to make Dugong and Turtle soup for the children. She has also asked if she can make a fire pit to make Damper.Jo has also contributed a new idea for a change to the program that she feels will help to contribute to the children’s learning.
Noelene is thrilled that the children have remembered the songs and practices that Heather modelled for stress free transition times. She reported that all the staff have remembered and are using these techniques feeling so much happier.
Outcomes
1.Staff implementing changes as planned in the Intensive program.
2. Using music to support stress free transitions
3 Noelene has asked for more ideas about music and process for transition times.
4. Maddy, an Indigenous staff member has begun to participate with ideas that bring an Indigenous perspective. She has asked her father to come to cook, and plans for him to make an oven in the ground to make damper for all the children.
5. Staff contributing to ideas for change and feeling more confident to try things out.
6. Staff excited bout next Intensive program. They have asked Heather to teach them how to make paper with the children.
7. Staff will travel to Learning Circle 7 with Heather. They are very excited to go on country with Heather.
The next steps
On the 25th July Heather will spend the day with the staff again and a Professional Development meeting in the evening. This will be followed by a journey to Wangkajungka Community for Learning Circle 7 that will take place on Country.
Staff at Scallywags are looking forward to this journey for additional learning and inspiration for changes at Scallywags.
Siobhan Cassan from Kimberley Language and Resource Centre has offered to make contacts with Elders in Derby who could help Scallywags to achieve the changes and support Indigenous language and stories in the curriculum. Siobhan will come to the next learning circle and continue the plans with Noelene and staff from Scallywags.
1.Staff implementing changes as planned in the Intensive program.
2. Using music to support stress free transitions
3 Noelene has asked for more ideas about music and process for transition times.
4. Maddy, an Indigenous staff member has begun to participate with ideas that bring an Indigenous perspective. She has asked her father to come to cook, and plans for him to make an oven in the ground to make damper for all the children.
5. Staff contributing to ideas for change and feeling more confident to try things out.
6. Staff excited bout next Intensive program. They have asked Heather to teach them how to make paper with the children.
7. Staff will travel to Learning Circle 7 with Heather. They are very excited to go on country with Heather.
The next steps
On the 25th July Heather will spend the day with the staff again and a Professional Development meeting in the evening. This will be followed by a journey to Wangkajungka Community for Learning Circle 7 that will take place on Country.
Staff at Scallywags are looking forward to this journey for additional learning and inspiration for changes at Scallywags.
Siobhan Cassan from Kimberley Language and Resource Centre has offered to make contacts with Elders in Derby who could help Scallywags to achieve the changes and support Indigenous language and stories in the curriculum. Siobhan will come to the next learning circle and continue the plans with Noelene and staff from Scallywags.
Who were the people involved?
Noelene Heywood: Coordinator, Scallywags Children's Centre
Lyn Bush: Scallywags childcare staff
Maddy Morrison: Scallywags childcare staff
Jo Morgan. Scallywags childcare
Heather Lawrence: CCC Consultant.
Siobhan Cassan: Kimberley Language and Resource Centre.
Noelene Heywood: Coordinator, Scallywags Children's Centre
Lyn Bush: Scallywags childcare staff
Maddy Morrison: Scallywags childcare staff
Jo Morgan. Scallywags childcare
Heather Lawrence: CCC Consultant.
Siobhan Cassan: Kimberley Language and Resource Centre.
What needed to be challenged?
Respectful interactions between children and staff
Respectful Interactions between staff
Responsive practices with children in the curriculum
Ideas and possibilities for change in the curriculum to include Indigenous perspectives including languages and stories
What made a difference?
Developing shared principles and philosophy with staff members
Development of trust in the work and in the training
Confidence through leadership of coordinator to try out new ideas
Support for the coordinator to feel confident in her desire for change and her choice of small incremental steps
What did we in the CCC project do?
Heather made contact with the Coordinator on the 30th May, 2008.
Heather contacted Siobhan Cassan to enquire about ways the Kimberley Language and Resource Centre could support the contact with Elders in Derby to support Scallywags.
First learning Intensive Wednesday 11th, 12th 13th June.
Heather met with Siobhan Cassan for meeting in Derby to discuss support for Scallywags.
Siobhan has offered to come to a learning intensive in the future. Will discuss this at Learning Circle 7.
Phone calls made.
17th June- Reflections on the learning circle with Coordinator and Maddy.
8th July - Reflection on changes made to date,
9th July - Reflections and checking on data for the report.
Timeline of events
30th May first contact made after Learning Circle.
Learning Intensive: 11th- 12th 13th June. 2008
Phone calls 17th June, 8th July, 9th July.
Data sources
Raw data notes from learning intensive program
Records of telephone calls
Records of telephone calls
