Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre - Women · Building · Belonging

Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu Yani U

 

Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu Yani U incorporates early childhood learning, a child and parent centre, as well as affiliated partnerships for the betterment and wellbeing of our children and families of the Fitzroy Valley.

Baya Gawiy Early Childhood Learning Unit (ECLU) provides Fitzroy Valley families a safe, trauma informed environment for their children. We provide culturally appropriate learning and care to children 6 months to 4 years.

Child and Parent Centre (CPC) works to improve access to health and education for Fitzroy Valley families targeting children aged 0 to 7 years and their families. It is a welcoming, safe and dynamic space that tailors programs to meet the changing diverse needs of vulnerable families.

 

Baya Gawiy

 

The Community Programs are our affiliated partnerships to improve health, wellbeing, cultural knowledge and educational outcomes for children and their families of the Fitzroy Valley.

Baya Gawiy opened its doors in September 2012 and was formally opened on July 2nd 2013. The centre was opened as an integrated early childhood centre, constructed and developed by Marninwarntikura under the National Partnership Agreement for Indigenous Early Childhood Development, part of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Closing the Gap agenda.

The word “Baya Gawiy” means freshwater whipray in Bunuba and “Buga Yani Jandu Yani U” means Baya Gawiy is for all the children and their families. The building has been designed to reflect the shape of the Baya Gawiy. The aerial photograph below.

 

 

PHOTO: 2020 Baya Gawiy Team during our induction week

 

CENTRE'S PHILOSOPHY

The aim of the Baya Gawiy Buga yani Jandu yani u Centre is to improve health and education outcomes for children and families in the Fitzroy Valley by working in partnership with the community.

Baya Gawiy is a place where “Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Doing” is central to all we believe and do, whilst also embracing the diversity of families within our community. We do this by connecting with culture and place, families and communities to promote a safe, comfortable gathering place where all visitors feel welcome, respected and valued.

We nurture authentic two-way partnerships between   Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and community members to realise the aims of Baya Gawiy in a mutually respectful and sustainable way. One way we do this is to foster an environment of professional learning and development with all staff.

Baya Gawiy Early Childhood Learning Unit is committed to having high expectations for all children in their journey to become life-long learners within the context of their Community identity. Learning must be connected and meaningful to our community whilst also preparing children to walk in two worlds throughout their lives. We want our children to be respected, respectful and responsible citizens.

In addition to Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Doing, our practices are guided by children’s voices. We acknowledge that we have much to learn from children and as such they become our teachers. We also believe families are a child’s first teacher so therefore value and encourage knowledge sharing across the Centre.

Our Play Based learning environments reflect children and educator’s creativity and imagination whilst being safe, caring and calm. We believe in the importance of planning, monitoring and documenting of children’s learning and development to enable us to build upon their individual strengths, needs and interests.

Programs and practices at the Baya Gawiy Centre are also informed by the Early Years Learning Framework, the Fitzroy Valley Marulu Strategy, components of Emergent Curriculum and the Kidsmatter Early Childhood Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative - all of which work together to improve outcomes for children and families in the Fitzroy Valley.