In this edition of the fkaCS newsletter

This term, we’ve got our Annual General Meeting (AGM) with some wonderful guest speakers: author of the children’s book ‘Why Does Mum Wear A Hijab?’ and other titles, Amal Abou-Eid is joining us along with Associate Professor Brigid Jordan AM and Dr Anne Kennedy to talk about their work with Parkville Institute – Changing children’s life trajectories: Research, evidence and practice.

In this newsletter we highlight just a few from the range of new resources in the MRC for you to borrow to support inclusion, social and emotional wellbeing in your service. We highlight some of the happenings for the sector and we dig a little on using labels for multilingual families in early childhood.

Contents

• Notice of fkaCS Annual General Meeting …. p. 2
• Feature Article: Language, Identity and Labels …. p. 3
• New! From the Multicultural Resource Centre …. p. 6
• Sector Updates …. p. 8

New from the Multicultural Resource Centre

Resources: Dolls and Games

We have recently boosted our range of dolls as we know having dolls visually representing various aspects of our community, helps children see themselves and promotes a sense of belonging and wellbeing. These dolls also help children normalise people who may appear different from themselves.

Use these new resources to create learning experiences that link to VEYLDF Practice Principle 5 Equity and Diversity:

• Services engage in sustained shared conversations with children to explore equity and diversity, to promote each child’s sense of identity.
• Services ensure that the interests, abilities and culture of every child and their family are understood and valued.

Inclusive Family Units Range

These dolls represent a range of people that may make up a family. Reflecting on the family structures within your service, how might you choose and group these dolls to support a positive sense of identity and belonging for all of your families? Consider families that may be mixed race, blended, single or extended. You may choose to support this provocation with books that also include a range of family structures.