East Sunshine Kindergarten was recognised at the Victorian Early Years awards recently, with its work with refugee families earning an award for improving access and participation in early learning.
The kindergarten, which works closely with Chin refugees from Burma, was awarded $15,000 as part of the win. The kinder’s educational leader Linda Hyett said the impact of the win would be widespread in the school community.
“The money will make a huge difference to the whole kindergarten,” she said.
“We’ll be able to access things sooner, without hesitating because we don’t have the funds. We want to expand on the programs we already have, maybe expand to another refugee group, as well as creating a resource that’s more accessible for other groups to use.
“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to find organisations and resources for families and this money will help us to provide some of those ourselves.”
Roughly a quarter of the 80 families at the kindergarten are from a refugee background. Ms Hyett said it was important that early learning centres such as this were given the attention and the funding they need.
“It’s very exciting to bring early childhood into focus and make people aware of how important it is,” she said.
“We’re more than just babysitters and the kids are learning so much with us.”
Ewen McRae
