Building Cultural Connections: Deepening Our Knowledge of Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
As part of our 2025–2026 RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) goals, our team identified a key focus area — building our knowledge and understanding of Torres Strait Islander (TSI) culture. We recognised this as a gap within our current practice and felt that strengthening this knowledge would enhance our confidence to embed more teachable moments and explicit learning opportunities that reflect both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
An audit of our service resources, guided by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resource Assessment Tool, reaffirmed our need to locate and invest in more authentic Torres Strait Islander resources. We saw this as an opportunity to deepen our own professional learning while enriching the experiences offered to children within our program.
Through Kindy Uplift 2025 funding, our team engaged in Connecting the Dots through Culture — a professional learning series perfectly aligned with our RAP and QIP goals. Across 13 tailored sessions, educators explored practical strategies for embedding Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse perspectives into our daily program and environment.
This dynamic series invited us to “be brave enough to step outside the box” and have a go. The sessions explored topics such as:
- Baskets of Culture
- Visiting the Islands
- Meaningful Acknowledgements
- Principles – A Closer Look
- Flags of Harmony
- Culture through Music
- Connecting Baby
- Mother Earth Gifts
- Weaving Cultural Stories
- Structures and Shelters
- Cultural Motifs
- Make and Leave
- When Words Inspire
Each session was supported by a comprehensive resource guide and reflective journal, which encouraged educators to consider:
- Where we are in our current understanding
- What we are most curious about
- How we can further explore these curiosities
- How new knowledge can be meaningfully applied to our everyday teaching
These professional conversations guided our decisions when selecting new resources — ensuring they were authentic, respectful, and meaningful. We are now proud to have a growing collection of woven mats, storybooks, puzzles, and musical instruments that beautifully capture the essence of Torres Strait Islander culture.
One of the most powerful reflections from our sessions was the reminder that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are learning in two worlds. As educators, we must be mindful of this as we plan and engage in everyday experiences, ensuring that our practices respectfully reflect and honour both worlds.
Another valuable discussion explored how revisiting historical events through a different lens can help us recognise the resilience, adaptability, and strength of Torres Strait Islander peoples — and the ways these experiences have created opportunities to support their communities today.
The Baskets of Culture concept particularly resonated with us. We were inspired by how baskets, in many cultures, are both functional and symbolic — representing connection, heritage, and storytelling. Exploring baskets from around the world helped us see how these artefacts can hold and share culture, evoke memories, and connect people to their ancestors. This concept can be extended to explore many other cultural artefacts — such as drums, musical instruments, or traditional clothing — each serving as a window into cultural identity and belonging.
Through this journey, our team has not only expanded our understanding of Torres Strait Islander culture but also strengthened our shared commitment to embedding meaningful, authentic First Nations perspectives throughout our program — ensuring that culture, connection, and respect are woven into the fabric of every child’s learning experience.
