Yarn strong sista
Professional Development
Professional Development Workshops for Early Childhood Professionals and Teachers
PIVOTING OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO BUILD AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE IN ONLINE EDUCATION
Sharing cultural experiences, creating confidence in educators & inspiring new thinking in the digital learning phase. Yarn Strong Sista have made changes quickly to enable this by moving from face to face engagement with our community to create the following:
- Online Mentoring with Early Childhood Professionals and Teachers.
- Online Cultural Competency Workshops with Early Childhood Educators.
- Online Cultural Competency Workshops for Not-for-Profit and Corporate Organisations.
Workshops - early childhood
Yarn Strong Sista offers nine workshops of each 2-3 hours or a day’s training on any topic that interests you. Please book in early for cross-cultural Professional Development workshops, training all levels of the education system including early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Workshop one
Aboriginal Culture and Identity
Promoting authentic representations of Indigenous culture and identity forms the purpose of the work we do at Yarn Strong Sista. We offer Professional Development workshops that unpack what contemporary Indigenous cultures and identities look like. During discussions about Aboriginal identity we focus on breaking down prejudices that exist, and the discriminations faced by Indigenous people. By touching on elements both from the past and the present, we provide workshops that challenge existing beliefs and shift the way we think about Aboriginal culture and identity. We will discuss Dr Sue Atkinson-Lopez’s PhD research which focuses on Aboriginal Pedagogy. This workshop includes group work, storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Two
Aboriginal Elders as Teachers of Environmental Knowledge
Aboriginal people have looked after the land, water, air, plants and animals that inhabit Australia for over 60,000 years, so it only makes sense to look to Indigenous knowledges when it comes to looking after the environment. As Aboriginal people, we look to our Elders for support and for knowledge that has been passed on from generation to generation. In our Professional Development workshops, we revise Indigenous knowledges on ways that we can care for Country, and ways that we can weave these into our everyday lives to ensure we pay respects to the land on which we live, and to our Ancestors who have paved the way in maintaining Country. We will share and reflect on Dr. Sue Atkinson Lopez’s PhD research “Indigenous Early Childhood Curriculum and Self Determination” which has a focus on “What Aboriginal Elders Want Children to Learn about Culture”. Participants will gain a greater understanding of Aboriginal culture and feel more confident to support Aboriginal inclusive practise in their services. This workshop includes storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Three
Aboriginal Literacy in Early Childhood Curriculum
Incorporating Aboriginal Literacy throughout services and curriculum ensures that Indigenous traditions, voices and languages
are represented in our education system. This Professional Development workshop will give participants a greater understanding
of the place of Indigenous literacies in Early Childhood and Primary Education. We will discuss Indigenous literacies and its relevance to young children, and how you can embed these into your programs through an Action Plan. We examine Dr. Sue Atkinson Lopez’s PhD research ‘Indigenous Early Childhood Curriculum and Self Determination’ which focuses on Indigenous Pedagogy. We encourage thinking about literacy outside of just books, and acknowledging Indigenous perspectives of reading landscapes, seasons, symbols and artefacts as valuable literacy. This workshop includes group work, storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Four
Bringing Bush Tucker into Early Childhood and Primary Curriculum
Incorporating bush tucker programs into the curriculum as Early Childhood Educators and Primary Teachers is a fun and tasty way of demonstrating the diversity of Indigenous knowledges and skills. It also demonstrates the strong link between Indigenous people and the land, learning ways to be resourceful and thrive off what the land has to offer. This Professional Development workshop refers to existing resources that have been developed by Yarn Strong Sista in conjunction with Cancer Council Victoria and the Victorian Department of Education and Training. We will share and reflect on Dr. Sue Atkinson Lopez’s PhD research “Indigenous Early Childhood Curriculum and Self Determination” which has a focus on “What Aboriginal Elders Want Children to Learn about Culture.” Participants will come away from this workshop with recipe ideas, an understanding of traditional and contemporary uses of Indigenous plants and animals and how to utilise these in your curriculum. Plus, as a treat, our Aboriginal presenter will bring some bush tucker for you to taste!
Workshop FIVE
Building Authentic Relationships with Aboriginal Families and Communities
Whose Country do you live on? What Language group land do you work on? What do you do when you have an Aboriginal child or student you care for and educate? Reaching out and shaping genuine and lasting relationships with local Aboriginal families and communities is an important action as a way of embedding Aboriginal curriculum in the everyday program. In this Professional Development we will share Dr. Sue Atkinson Lopez’s PhD research “Indigenous Early Childhood Curriculum and Self Determination” which has a focus on “What Aboriginal Parents Want for Their Children Attending Early Childhood Services”. This is vital knowledge that gives voice to Aboriginal families and their experiences within Early Childhood Services. Participants will gain a greater understanding of Aboriginal culture and feel more confident to support Aboriginal inclusive practise in their services. You will be inspired by the stories of Early Childhood Professionals that have made a commitment to Reconciliation. Educators will also develop a resource they can share with children and families they work with. This workshop includes group work storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Six
Stolen Generation and Past Policies
We offer Professional Development for Early Childhood Professionals, Primary and Secondary Teachers on the history and effects of the Stolen Generation and past policies on Australia’s Indigenous people. Understanding past treatment of First Nations groups gives educators insight into the experiences of trauma and pain that our communities are confronted by and aims to encourage cultural sensitivity. This workshop includes watching a film, group work, storytelling and hands on art experience
Workshop Seven
Traditional and Contemporary Games
Marngrook is a traditional Aboriginal game played by Victoria’s First People. Marngrook was played with a possum skin ball stuffed with reeds from the creek. The game we know as AFL is based on Marngrook and Gaelic Football. This Professional
Development workshop explores contemporary versions of traditional games in a hands-on way. Traditionally Aboriginal children were taught skills in survival through play. By actively participating in the workshop, we will learn traditional games that have been adapted. You will go away from this workshop being able to share these games with the children in your Early Childhood Service or School. By linking Indigenous storytelling with play, we are encouraging the sharing of Indigenous culture within the everyday curriculum. We examine Dr. Sue Atkinson Lopez’s PhD research ‘Indigenous Early Childhood Curriculum and Self Determination’ and how games are a part of Aboriginal Pedagogy. This workshop includes group work, storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Eight
Victorian Aboriginal Culture and Identity
Promoting authentic representations of Indigenous culture and identity forms the purpose of the work we do at Yarn Strong Sista. We offer Professional Development workshops that unpack what contemporary Indigenous cultures and identities look like. During discussions about Aboriginal identity we focus on breaking down prejudices that exist, and the discriminations faced by Indigenous people. By touching on elements both from the past and the present, we provide workshops that challenge existing beliefs and shift the way we think about Aboriginal culture and identity. We will discuss Dr Sue Atkinson-Lopez’s PhD research which focuses on Aboriginal Pedagogy. This workshop includes group work, storytelling and hands on art experience.
Workshop Nine
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
During this Professional Development workshop we will take a closer look at the Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge Story which was written by Yorta Yorta academic Dr Sue Atkinson Lopez, to reflect the revised Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). The Ochre painting which accompanies the Framework was created by Taungurung Artist, Annette Sax. We will examine the process of creating Ochre works in this style and unpack the Aboriginal symbols and animal tracks used by Annette in the painting. In this workshop we will discuss the Three Elements of the VEYLDF which include Practise Principles, Outcomes and Transition and Continuity of Learning. Both the story and art work are embedded in Aboriginal Pedagogy and this workshop will highlight the importance of linking Aboriginal culture within early years’ curriculum. This workshop will be conducted by Annette Sax and include storytelling and hands on art experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yarn Strong Sista offers a range of professional development opportunities for early childhood, primary, and high school educators, including workshops, cultural awareness training, and tailored consultancy. All programs are hands-on, engaging, and culturally grounded, providing practical skills to include Aboriginal perspectives in teaching while building confidence in storytelling, play-based experiences, and connecting with community knowledge. We also facilitate professional development through Victorian School Readiness Funding and Queensland Kindy Uplift programs.
Yarn Strong Sista workshops provide fresh ideas and practical strategies that educators can bring straight into their classrooms. Focusing on Aboriginal Culture and Aboriginal pedagogy, our sessions help early childhood, primary, and high school educators create inclusive, culturally aware spaces that value diversity and strengthen students’ sense of belonging.
Yes. Yarn Strong Sista professional development workshops are designed for educators at all levels of experience. Whether you are starting your career in early childhood, primary, or high school education, or have been teaching for many years, our workshops provide supportive, inspiring, and culturally grounded strategies that are adaptable to your practice.
Yes. Yarn Strong Sista regularly hosts workshops for early childhood, primary, and high school educators. Professional development can be accessed in three ways: online, onsite in our city store, or through tailored visits to schools, kindergartens, and education centres. We can accommodate larger staffing teams for these visits, making it easy to provide professional development that suits your whole team.
Yarn Strong Sista professional development is led by Aboriginal educators and artists with over 30 years of experience in education, ensuring authenticity, cultural safety, and connection to Aboriginal pedagogy. Our workshops combine storytelling, play-based experiences, and knowledge sharing to give early childhood, primary, and high school educators a unique, practical learning experience that goes beyond theory.
Yes. Yarn Strong Sista can design professional development workshops tailored to the needs of your staff and the age groups you work with. Early childhood, primary, and high school educators can benefit from customised sessions that build practical skills aligned with your goals, community context, and culturally grounded teaching practices. All workshops are designed to ensure participants gain a deeper understanding of Australian Aboriginal history, truth-telling, and the local community context.
Most Yarn Strong Sista workshops run between two hours and a full day, depending on the focus and the needs of your team. Online workshops typically run for two hours, while in-person sessions can range from two hours to a full day. All workshops include practical application, giving educators hands-on strategies they can use straight away, with shorter sessions ideal for introductions and full-day sessions allowing for deeper learning.
Yarn Strong Sista workshops cover a wide range of topics designed to strengthen educators’ cultural knowledge and provide practical strategies for their work. Themes include: Aboriginal storytelling, art practices, Acknowledgement of Country, embedding Aboriginal culture and pedagogy in the curriculum, Aboriginal culture and identity, Aboriginal Elders as Teachers of Environmental Knowledge, Aboriginal literacy in early childhood curriculum, bringing bush tucker into early childhood and primary curriculum, building authentic relationships with Aboriginal families and communities, Stolen Generations and past policies, traditional and contemporary games, and Sky Country.
We also provide cultural awareness training tailored for community organisations and corporate settings. All sessions are hands-on, culturally grounded, and designed so educators can confidently apply learning in their classrooms or workplaces.
Booking is simple. You can contact Yarn Strong Sista directly through our website, by email at info@yarnstrongsista.com, or by phone to speak with Annette on 0423 262 774. We will work with you to organise a professional development workshop for early childhood, primary, or high school educators that fits your schedule and supports your team’s cultural knowledge and professional growth.
Yes. Participants can receive a certificate of completion upon request after attending Yarn Strong Sista professional development workshops. This certificate is a valuable addition to your professional learning portfolio and can be used to demonstrate evidence of ongoing training and professional growth.
For a quote please complete the form on your right or email Annette Sax on Annette@yarnstrongsista.com the following details:
- Name of your service and contact person
- Amount of participants
- Amount of participants
- Date of potential training workshop
- Suburb and State of your service
- Length of training (2-3 hours or day training)
- Workshop topic that interests you