CEIEC Keynote: Sue Atkinson Lopez

Bio

Sue Atkinson Lopez is an Indigenous Australian ( Yorta Yorta) whose traditional homelands are in the North East of Victoria. Sue believes that she was the first Indigenous Victorian to graduate as a kindergarten teacher. Sue has worked across the education sector from the kindergarten to Higher Education sectors with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students for 30 yrs. Sue is currently a PhD candidate at The University of Melbourne researching “Indigenous Self- determination and early childhood education and care in Victoria ‘

Abstract

Title - The early childhood professional as learner'
Although there is a movement towards acknowledging and respecting Indigenous cultural capital within the early childhood curriculum as seen in the anti bias movement , when a culture has been the subject of erasure and silencing as the Victorian Indigenous culture has the decolonisation of Indigenous early childhood remains challenging. Specifically this paper highlights the need for early childhood professionals to develop partnerships with their local Indigenous community to create new knowledge around Indigenous inclusion in the context of Victoria's political, social and historical landscape. A short case study is presented describing a teacher engaging successfully with her local Indigenous community in this regard. Pre service and in service training for non Indigenous early childhood professionals is also discussed including barriers to participation and meaningful education.