Beginning lifelong learning about First Nations People through movement and mindfulness.
 

The Jarjums Connections 8-week program promotes movement, mindfulness and Aboriginal culture to children, families and educators in early childhood education and care preschool settings. The program has been developed by Sydney Local Health District Aboriginal health and health promotion staff in collaboration with early childhood and children’s yoga educators.

Children are connected through music, story, mindfulness, meditation, art activities and yoga-influenced poses inspired by significant Aboriginal animal movements.

The program is a unique way of addressing physical activity and mental wellbeing in children through movement and meditation at the same time as embedding Aboriginal perspective into the Early Childhood Curriculum.

Following training, the 8-week program is delivered by early childhood educators and supported by an educator guide (preview sample), story book, and a suite of digital and hard copy resources connecting children to the EORA Nation and three of its significant Aboriginal animals, the Garuwa (whale) Wirriga (goanna) and Burra (eel).

Jarjums Connections complements and culturally enriches the state-wide NSW Ministry of Health Munch & Move program and is supported by our Munch & Move team.

Jarjums Connections was launched during NAIDOC Week 2022 and received a Sydney Local Health District Innovation and Excellence Award in December 2022. Outcomes from a pilot in 3 preschool settings informed production of the second edition of program resources.

Beginning in early 2023 the program will be offered to over 300 early childhood education and care settings in the District.