Creativity, Culture, and Connection: A Powerful Gathering in Meanjin

On Tuesday, July 1st, under the warm sun and crisp winds of a perfect winter’s day in Meanjin, something special happened. Ninety passionate Kindy educators came together with eight talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives and three community organisations for a day of creativity, culture, and deep connection.

The gathering took place at Koobara Kindergarten and Pre-prep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, where the grounds transformed into a vibrant hub of learning, storytelling, and community. The cool breeze carried voices, songs, and laughter across the space, and a crackling fire invited us to sit, yarn, and reflect.

The day began with Waveney Yasso’s heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country, sung beneath the big gum tree that became the central meeting point throughout the day. This space, surrounded by camp chairs filled with shared meals and deep conversations, grounding us in place and purpose. Some of us were lucky enough to spend time with Waveney learning about how we can create our own meaningful Acknowledgements.

The Mabaigal team took participants on a sensory journey through Zenadth Kes. With coconut frond weaving, music, and dance led by Josh, the group was immersed in the richness of Torres Strait Islander culture.

Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt and Jacki Ferro brought their children’s book series Spirit of the Dreaming to life through puppetry, language, song, and visual art. Aunty Rhonda, a survivor of the Stolen Generations, shared her personal story with strength and grace. Her biography Alice’s Daughter: Lost Mission Child resonated deeply, leaving many moved and eager to share her books with their communities.

Later, Aunty Rhonda joined the fireplace for more storytelling—her presence a beacon of resilience and wisdom.

Norton introduced the group to traditional techniques of twine-making with raffia, which were then transformed into handmade brushes. Participants explored ink artwork inspired by the native quandong seed, blending cultural learning with tactile creativity.

Joe from Koobara shared stories of the "Koobara Way" and their practice of slow pedagogy—a meaningful approach grounded in patience, connection, and culture.

Mandy from Deadly Dot Pots guided participants in painting terracotta pots using Aboriginal symbols and dot techniques, sparking conversations around storytelling through art.

Caleb from Yangga Art showcased traditional artefacts, explaining their significance and inspiring educators to meaningfully incorporate these into early learning environments.

As the wind picked up and our time together came to an end, Aunty Deb Jackson led a calming session of “Heads, Shoulders, Breath and Pose” yoga. It was a peaceful conclusion to a day filled with vibrant energy and emotional depth.

Throughout the event, The Benevolent Society, First Five Forever, and the Deadly Kindies teams were on hand to share their expertise and ongoing work in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

This was more than just a professional development day—it was a gathering of hearts and minds, of stories and songs, of ancient wisdom and modern practice. Participants left inspired, empowered, and committed to weaving what they’d learned into their classrooms and communities.

The threads of creativity, culture, and connection that were spun on this special day will continue to ripple outward—strengthening relationships, deepening understanding, and celebrating and bringing through the voices and knowledge of First Nations peoples in early childhood education.

This event made possible with thanks to:

• Apple Berries Early Education Centre

• Burpengary Play and Learn

• C&K Woodford Community Kindergarten

• C&K Caboolture Community Kindergarten & Preschool

• C&K Walkervale Community Kindergarten

• C&K Tewantin Community Childcare Centre

• C&K Beachmere Community Kindergarten

• Caboolture Apex Kindergarten & Preschool

• Green Leaves Early Learning Murrumba Downs

• Karalee Kindergarten & Early Years Learning