Gowrie SA is committed to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This requires us to think in a holistic way about children’s wellbeing and their place in society and in the services designed to support them. It enables us to recognise that children have agency as rights-holders and that we have a role in safeguarding their rights.
In our work at Gowrie SA, we strive to ensure that the rights of all children to a quality education are being met and that all children have a voice in what affects them. We recognise that some children have additional/special rights and require a specific focus to thrive in early education and care programs.
In our programs, our consultancy work and in our inclusion program we work with educators and professionals to promote the rights of all children to fully participate in their communities and achieve optimal learning and wellbeing. We work to support educators to understand their responsibilities in relation to inclusion of all children. We work alongside them to develop practical and meaningful strategies to include all children in education and care settings.
In particular, the following groups:
- children with disability,
- children from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds,
- refugee and newly arrived children,
- children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,
- children under Guardianship of the Minister.
We strive to engage and influence people and their organisations, to recognise the right of all children and young people to quality education and support. We advocate for every child’s right to participate.
Key reference documents supporting our rights based approach to care and education are:
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
- Belonging, Being and Becoming—The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (2009)
- Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Supporting young children’s rights: statement of intent (2015 – 2018)
- Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care
- National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 (2009)
- Investing in the Early Years—A National Early Childhood Development Strategy 2009–2020 (2009)