The Aboriginal Cultural Inclusivity Guide & Assessment for Early Learning Services is a practical, 128 page, self-guided, spiral-bound resource that supports services to embed Aboriginal cultures and perspectives respectfully and meaningfully into everyday practice, in alignment with the Early Years Learning Framework.

The guide offers clear guidance and practical suggestions across each area of the quarterly checklist assessment, with the checklist and action plan enabling services to assess, identify, and strengthen cultural inclusion, while also serving as a strong tool and source of evidence for Assessment and Rating. 

How This Guide & Assessment Supports Your Service

• Keeps culture alive: Supports the ongoing recognition, continuation, and respectful sharing of Aboriginal cultures within early learning environments, moving beyond tokenistic practice to meaningful, informed action.

• Strengthens connection and inclusion: Helps services create culturally safe spaces where Aboriginal children, families, and communities feel seen, respected, and connected to culture, Country, and identity.

• Supports your responsibilities: Guides services to embed Aboriginal cultures and perspectives across everyday practice, policies, environments, and relationships in a consistent and intentional way.

• Supports Assessment and Rating: Aligns with the National Quality Standard and supports services to confidently demonstrate intentional practice, reflection, and continuous improvement during Assessment and Rating.

• What assessors are looking for: Assessors look for respectful, ongoing practice rather than perfection. This includes how Aboriginal cultures and perspectives are embedded across the service, how strengths and gaps are identified, and how services reflect on and strengthen practice over time. 

• Using the Guide & Assessment Across the Year

The guide provides clear guidance and practical suggestions for each focus area, which align directly with the corresponding sections of the quarterly checklist assessment. The focus areas are outlined below.

Four checklists are included so the assessment can be completed quarterly. This process can begin at any time — simply start in your intended quarter and progress through each quarter across the year. 

At the end of each checklist, an action plan is included. This is designed to be used as an ongoing process to strengthen cultural competency over time, rather than a one-off task completed once the checklist is finished. The action plan supports reflection, intentional planning, and continuous improvement, enabling services to document practice, identify next steps, and demonstrate how Aboriginal cultures and perspectives are embedded across everyday practice in alignment with the EYLF and National Quality Standard.

FOCUS AREAS

• Part 1. Creating a Culturally Welcoming Environment

• Part 2. Recognising and Honouring Indigenous Cultures

• Part 3. Engaging with Community

• Part 4. Cultural Competency and Training

• Part 5. Curriculum and Programming Alignment with EYLF

• Part 6. Environment and Resources

• Part 7. Cultural Communication Practices

• Part 8. Inclusive Policy Development

• Part 9. Parental and Family Involvement

• Part 10. Cultural Celebrations and Events

Pre-order: This resource will ship 12 February