About us

Our Aims

• To promote a curriculum that is gender inclusive; recognises our society as multicultural; and promotes social justice
• To encourage children to:
  • develop their full potential
  • be caring, sharing individuals
  • develop and sustain a spirit of enquiry
  • develop a child's confidence and self-esteem
  • be inventive and cope with change
  • create a love for learning
• To provide an environment for children to develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and creatively through structured experiences and play.

Our Purpose

Wiradjuri has been established to:

• provide high quality early childhood education.
• be an integral part of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program.
• focus on innovation and research.
• be a key learning centre for students, teachers and the community.
• provide a community service for the city of Canberra.

Our specialisations include Literacy and STEM. We are very proud of our commitment to the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives and reconciliation more generally.

For Children

Our philosophy for children is that early childhood is:

• Active: as children explore, investigate, experiment, think and communicate in challenging environments.
• Relevant: by building on children's experiences, ideas, interests and cultural backgrounds.
• Planned: to cater for children's emotional, social and intellectual and physical growth.
• Child Centred: by focussing on the developmental needs and learning styles of children.
• A Continuum: of family oriented learning and values continued participation of parents.
• A Foundation: for future education and those values that promote co-operative human endeavour.

For Teachers

Our philosophy for teachers is that they:

• acquire an understanding of children's development through careful observation and interaction;
• explicitly model the learning processes and introduce knowledge areas to children eg., language, mathematics, science, technology, music, art, etc;
• work together with children in these knowledge areas and jointly construct understandings; and
• gradually hand over responsibility for the learning task as the child gains understanding and confidence.

Highlights

• Cultural awareness: acknowledging and developing relationships to culture and Country.
• Social justice and inclusion: acknowledging and respecting Australia's multi-cultural community
• Maths: sorting, classifying, pattern, number, shape, colour, problem solving.
• Language and Literacy: listening, speaking, reading, writing.
• Books: enjoyment of books, concept of books, shared book experiences.
• Science & Technology: Tinkering Table, Nature Table, Computers, use of the Design, Make and Appraise Process, Cooking and selected group times.
• Blocks: spatial awareness, problem solving social development, classification, use of design, make and appraise process.
• Play: role play, social/emotional development, transference of self into role.
• Puzzles: problem solving, spatial awareness, fine motor control.
• Music: develop rhythm, beat, pitch.
• Art: develop creativity, develop awareness of aesthetic environment colour, texture, patterns, fine motor - cutting, pasting, painting.
• Outdoor: gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, social play and environmental awareness.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is framed by Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (1.92Mb PDF)

For more information about the Early Years Learning Framework please visit this Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) webpage - ACECQA: Approved learning frameworks

All routines are flexible according to the needs of the children and in response to the weather, planned excursions, visitors and unexpected events.

Sample Program

Rest Time

All children are encouraged to rest during rest time, however they are not required to sleep. We feel that relaxation is an important skill to learn, and as with many behaviour patterns, is best established in early childhood. The length of time a child rests is dependent upon his or her needs. This time of day is planned so that each child is comfortable and relaxed. Listening to music tapes and story tapes assists in this. The rest time is programmed from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm.

Routines and daily activities

You can assist us on a daily basis with routines if each morning you place drinks in the drink carrier; lunch boxes in the lunch basket/fridge; morning and afternoon tea containers in the labelled baskets and sign your child in using the Centre's system. In the afternoon we ask parents to collect food containers and drink bottles; and sign your child out of the Centre.

We promote an awareness of good eating habits, and appreciate all attempts to limit 'junk' food. We have many ideas for nutritious and interesting snacks and lunches. Please ask.

Current Staff

• Director and Educational Leader: Rowena Muir
• Financial Administrator: Jenny Truong

We also employ pre-service teachers who are University of Canberra students in these Faculty of Education courses:

• Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
• Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five)

Our policies and procedures are currently under review in consultation with families, children, staff and our community. The Policy and Procedure Manual is located in our Family Area at the Centre, and via the OWNA App used by Wiradjuri Preschool and Child Care Families.

A list of relevant policies and procedures is listed below for your information.