Welcome each and every child and family to the Centre and programme

Provide a programme and environment that is inclusive of all children

Provide accurate developmentally appropriate information to develop positive attitudes towards

people of different culture, race, language, physical ability and gender.

Ensure that the programme meets the needs of each child and family.

Encourage each child to develop to their full potential.

Enable children to develop independence, autonomy, competency, confidence and pride.

Provide children with accurate, developmentally appropriate information about their own and other cultures and differing abilities.

Educators will be positive role models, encouraging both girls and boys to experience active/gross motor play in order to develop their physical potential.

Provide a wide range of male and female work roles, both within and out of the home, including nurturing behaviour. This is presented through play and language experiences.

Encourage all children to develop friendships with each other (regardless of age, sex, culture or disability) based on mutual trust and respect.

Where necessary and/or convenient, parent information will be translated into other languages.

Encourage and invite parents from a non-English speaking background and cultures other than Anglo Australian to contribute knowledge of their own culture to enhance the overall programme.

Challenge bias, stereotypes and prejudice in materials and resources and in comments or actions of the children.

Implement “Multicultural Principles for Children’s’ Services” as stated in the N.S.W. Department of Community Services Regulations and Licensing Guidelines for Centre-Based Childcare Services, as shown below: -

• Multiculturalism is the right of all people to have equal opportunity to access society’s resources and the need for recognition and understanding of their diverse languages, cultures, religious practices and values.
• All services should be accessible and appropriate to children of non-English speaking background.Recognition and support and opportunity should be given to ensure: -

the right of all children to maintain their language and culture

the need to acknowledge different religious and cultural practices

the right of all children to benefit from good quality educational programmes and activities which will ensure that each child’s cultural heritage is respected

• A programme with a multicultural perspective acknowledges and supports the linguistic, cultural and religious background of all the children.
• Children bring specific knowledge and skills through membership of a particular cultural group with them to the learning situation.

adequate and appropriate food and drinks available ;to children according to their cultural needs

the employment of bilingual educators to enable and encourage the participation of both parents and children in the service

sensitivity to cultural, linguistic and religious factors to ensure that each child is accorded their rights and that the needs of both parents and children are preserved

folksongs, stories, art and craft are only the beginnings of any genuine multicultural programme. The development of cultural recognition and the affirmation of the child require that service personnel develop the knowledge, awareness and sensitivity of cultural differences in order to provide the necessary experiences for all children attending the service.