Childcare gong for Tiggers Honeypot

A commitment to teaching children about Reconciliation Week has secured a UNSW child care centre a spot on the Australian Family Education and Care Awards shortlist.

Tiggers Honeypot, one of four long day care centres at UNSW, was shortlisted for the Centre of the Year and Director of the Year award from 1200 nominees. The Centre was recognised for its outstanding achievements in the Social Justice and Community Building categories.

The awards celebrate outstanding achievement in child care and aim to encourage Australians working in all sectors of early childhood education and care to aspire to excellence.

Tiggers Honeypot has developed an educational program incorporating songs, books, discussion, basic Indigenous language skills and visits from Nura Gili and Indigenous elders to teach children the importance of reconciliation and Indigenous history.

“We teach the children that Indigenous people are our first people and that they exist side by side with us – not just in Redfern, or the outback, but here in our own community,” said Tiggers Honeypot director Sylvia Turner.

She said teaching children about the Stolen Generation is a critical part of the Reconciliation Week education program because they learn about empathy.

Tiggers Honeypot celebrated National Sorry Day with an unveiling of an Indigenous mosaic created by the children and UNSW Indigenous elder, Aunty Eli Golding. 

Early Years at UNSW general manager, Jemma Carlisle, said a strong social justice philosophy flows across all the University childcare centres.

“Our early childhood educators are committed to empowering children to believe they can make a difference to their world,” she said.

Early Years educators will attend the 10th Annual Social Justice in Early Childhood Conference in Sydney this weekend.

 Media contact: Fran Strachan, UNSW Media Office | 9385 8732 | 0429 416 070