Building Resilience for Indigenous Leaders

Lynette Callaghan

Kalaya Children’s Centre

Acknowledgement of Country

I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of Eora Nation as the

traditional custodians of the land we meet on today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and

present

A little bit about me!

• Lynette Callaghan - Narungga/Nukunu and Yankunytjatjara woman

• 5 siblings, Woomera and Adelaide• Education & Employment

Just a bit more!

• Mother to 5, 4 children and my teenage niece

• Director, Kalaya Children’s Centre since 2007

• Where I want to be…

A little bit about Kalaya!

• Established in 1975, 3 sites• Aboriginal Focus DECD site• Children aged 6 months to 6 years• Kuranye and Tooketja Rooms,

Muna & Parto Kindys • Bus Service

More about Kalaya!

• 20 staff members• Building renovations• Holistic Approaches• Wellbeing, fitness & Nutrition

Program

Exemplary Practices• IPP Hearing Program,• Yarnin Time, Tucker Time• Kaurna language program• Signing in the community• Children’s Centre for Early

Childhood Development and Parenting

Exemplary Practices• Fine Motor Program• Long term employees, valued staff

members • AST2 Teacher - Award

Exemplary Practices

• Story Telling in the Community• Aboriginal 3 yr old Literacy

Program• (1 of 10 in the State)• Support outreach sites

What is Resilience?• Own/EC & Studies• Dictionary definitions:

Oxford: The Capacity to recover quickly from difficulties: toughness

Webster: The ability to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens.

Resilience in Children• EYLF – Belonging, Being & Becoming• “You can do it” attitude• Strong self & cultural identity• Social confidence • Safe risk taking• Emotional self-regulation• Individual Learning Plans• SMART Training

What about Us?

• Social/Emotional/Physical• Cognitive and PD needs

• System designed for dominant culture – different world view

• Barriers, challenges, biases, • Discrimination etc.

All the R’s

• Reason – purpose!• Relationships - mutual! • Respect – all stakeholders!

Responsibility/Regulations

• Kalaya Community +• Professional Standards for Principals• Regulatory Authority• Diaf/Tefal• Reflect, Respect, Relate Scales• Accountability – funding bodies,

auditors, systems

Reflection - continual

• Internally/externally

• Reasons• Relationships• Respect• Responsibilities

Thank You!