Emma Beckett is manager at Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Toronto, on Awabakal Country. She describes community connection at Nikinpa as ‘a way of life’.

“We are not just an early learning centre; we are lucky to have community services on the premises including a women’s art group and Elders group. Parents drop off their children and have a yarn and there’s always the opportunity to come together in the shared courtyard,” she explains.

Nikinpa staff regularly host BBQs with the local community and create opportunities for the Elders group to engage with the children. Emma notes that the benefits of this interaction flow both ways.

“The children get a sense of their culture and of pride and the Elders get so much joy from seeing their younger selves in them, as well as in new experiences,” she says.

“For instance, when children graduate from Nikinpa we arrange a professional cultural photo portrait as a gift. This means something different to each child – some get their faces painted or wear traditional skins for the photo.

“A child showed his photo to his grandfather who took it to the Elders group. It turned out they had never had portraits taken, so we organised for the Elders to come in and have their portraits taken, which was really special for them.”

Involvement in the department’s Ninganah No More Aboriginal languages program also enhances community connection, says Emma.

“It has enabled a real focus that you can see in the kids. They go home singing songs, and then the parents come and ask about them. This has done wonders for the connection between parents and the service and gives them an appreciation of how capable their children are to be learning a new language that they didn’t have the opportunity to learn. Parents begin to see their children as capable learners and can advocate for them as they transition into formal education.”

Living culture in everyday practice

Nanima Preschool, located on Nanima Reserve on Wiradjuri land, fosters a strong connection to country, community, and culture, explains service director Deanne Towney.

She emphasises the importance of connecting children with different generations within the community to maintain cultural identity, knowledge, and wellbeing.

“Involving families, community members and Elders ensures our cultural needs as a service and community are met. At Nanima, we thrive on our intergenerational connections where Elders pass down their wisdom and younger generations learn from them,” she says.

The preschool collaborates with every Aboriginal organisation in Wellington and is active on the Wellington Aboriginal Action Panel. All staff are Aboriginal and are descendants of Nanima Reserve. “We live our culture in our everyday practices—from being aunties and uncles from the moment the children walk in the door, to engaging in art, craft, song, and dance,” she adds.

How to connect with community

Deanne’s advice for any service looking to connect with their local community is to contact local community organisations and land councils, as well as Aboriginal families, and encourage them to get involved.

Emma reinforces this. “Make the time to meet with Aboriginal people within the community. It takes time to form genuine relationships but it’s worth it as it will make the world of difference to your kids and your community.”

NAIDOC Week 2025

Watch how children, educators, Elders, families and community are continuing to share Aboriginal local cultures and knowledge through this year’s NAIDOC Week theme “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy". The short video (2:14) was filmed at Aboriginal Community-Controlled ECEC-led services in NSW including Nikinpa and Nanima, and highlights Elders, families and educators passing down knowledge and tradition for children to carry forward.