The Assignment on Early Childhood Education

Running head: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Early Childhood Education
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Task 1
1. Report on impact of European settlement on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders
Introduction
The aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders are the original inhabitants of
Australia. Since European settlement and colonization, due to the governmental legislatures,
policies and approaches, they have gone through many changes including their family
structure, health and wellbeing, loss of culture, land, kinship and language, education and
employment and Self-determination.
Discussion
Family Structure
The family structure of the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait islanders have gone
through much struggle due to the governmental policy of assimilation (Bono 2017). Through
this policy, the government was able to forcibly remove aboriginal children from their homes
and families and placed them with European families, in order to teach them European
culture, language and way of living. This led to serious distress among the aboriginal
population, leading to trans-generational trauma, loss of culture and identity, mental health
issues that still persists.
Health and wellbeing
The aboriginal health and wellbeing took a downward turn since colonization and
assimilation policy is one of the greatest reason for that. Apart from that, the lack of
governmental policy regarding aboriginal health, the loss of culture and familial bond, loss of

2EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
land and the violence faced during the colonial time led to extensive physical and mental
health weaknesses, the aboriginal population has relatively lower average age than the non-
aboriginals (Axelsson, Kukutai and Kippen 2016).
Loss of culture/ language/ land/ kinship
The assimilation policy and many other policies that followed, was a machinery of the
government to systematically remove all traces of aboriginal culture, language and identity.
Many of the aboriginal communities became extinct, many languages were lost forever,
aboriginal people lost their children and families and they were pushed off their lands with
which they were closely connected to (Reid 2018). These affected the aboriginal health,
wellbeing and chances of development as they moved to more remote locations.
Education and Employment
The aboriginal population experienced lower standard of education and lack of
employment opportunities during and after European settlement. There were no policies and
institutions that provided proper education. Only European education was available.
Employment for the aboriginals were all time low as they did not have proper education and
training required for employment. This also affected their health and social status. Poverty
was extensive and diseases pervaded the community and even today, education and
employment is still relatively low in the population group.
Self-determination
The self-determination of the aboriginals were nonexistent during and many years
after the colonization. They had no role or opinion about the governmental policies that
concerned them. Only recently, their right of governance and decision making about their
own political status, economy, society and culture has been recognized. In many phases of

3EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
life, aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are being included into the structure and
sustainable working relationships between the aboriginals and the others are developing.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders are at extreme disadvantaged position and need further reinforcement and inclusion
into the mainstream society.
2.
Part 1: Elements and standards of cultural identity and cross cultural
understandings
Standard number Element number Element wording
6.1 6.1.2 The expertise, culture, values
and beliefs of families are
respected and families share
in decision-making about
their child’s learning and
wellbeing
1.1 1.1.2 Each child’s current
knowledge, strengths, ideas,
culture, abilities and interests
are the foundation of the
program.
6.2 6.2.3 The service builds
relationships and engages