A Very Special Guest
See how an Indigenous Elder is enriching children’s learning at a leading Melbourne daycare.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Little Australians can learn a lot from our First Nations friends, and if you’re looking for childcare, then you’ll do well to find a centre that truly cares about Indigenous culture.
Quality early learning services share books by Indigenous creators, they celebrate important events like NAIDOC Week, and they may even have a bush tucker garden!
But only a few services are lucky to have a longstanding connection with an Indigenous Elder.
So, it’s interesting and inspiring to step inside Kindy Patch Clarinda in Melbourne.
This outstanding centre has a current KindiCare Rating of 9.6, and they are incredibly grateful to have a Wurrundjeri Elder, Uncle Ian Hunter, in their childcare community.
Kindy Patch Clarinda’s Centre Manager, Pavithra De Alwis, first met Uncle Ian five years ago, when he was performing a Welcome to Country ceremony at a Reconciliation Australia art exhibition.
Once they knew each other well, Pavi invited Uncle Ian to share his history, culture and wonderful personality with the older children at Kindy Patch Clarinda.
Uncle Ian did two visits last year, with four planned for 2026, and his presence has been hugely positive for the toddlers and preschoolers who’ve spent time with him.
They’ve been wowed by Uncle Ian’s didgeridoo-playing and story-telling, and are excited to fly paper boomerangs with him, then talk about bush tucker!
And beneath each fun interaction is a really meaningful lesson about cultural respect.
Pavi says, “It’s important that we are a centre that’s inclusive of all cultures, and Uncle Ian gives everyone a great understanding of how to respect First Nations culture.
“Uncle Ian values sharing his music, stories and family history with younger generations. The children pay him a lot of respect, and ask a lot of questions while he is here.
“And as educators, we are learning a lot too. We’ve now got the right resources and stories from Uncle Ian to share in every classroom, from the nursery up to the preschool room, so all ages can benefit from his wisdom.”
This means Uncle Ian’s presence is felt even when he’s not visiting, and Kindy Patch Clarinda acknowledges First Nations culture every single day.
Pavi and her team are passionate about giving the children lots of opportunities to learn about First Nations culture, though play, stories and daily rituals.
The centre has its own Reconciliation Action Plan, and the team are actively working towards reconciliation by embedding Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum.
They also do an Acknowledgement of Country in each classroom, each day, during a yarning circle.
And Pavi says these learning opportunities are important for the children in her care, and for everyone, because “They help us to keep reconciliation moving forward. They promote equity in Australia. And they ensure that First Nations knowledge and voices are honoured.”
Plenty of families have chosen Kindy Patch Clarinda because of its First Nations program, and if you’re searching for childcare, this kind of cultural teaching is a big positive.
So, have a look at Kindy Patch Clarinda if you’re in Melbourne, and think about culture when you’re exploring any early learning service.
Because cultural inclusion and respect are really, really important for your little one to experience, and for our educators to nurture.
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