Children's development, learning styles, and interactions are significantly influenced by culture and diversity. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Country, kinship ties, and cultural practices are the very essence of their identity and existence (AIATSIS, 2023). Disconnection from culture, loss of language, and racism can negatively affect the self-esteem, engagement, and educational outcomes of the children (Paradies, 2016). The early childhood sector has a responsibility to ensure culturally safe environments so that the Indigenous children's culture is affirmed and reconciliation promoted (Reconciliation Australia, 2024).
Early childhood settings may be the first point of contact with Australian social systems for immigrant or refugee families. Such families often face challenges that include language barriers, instances of trauma due to displacement, and unfamiliarity with the education system (Zubrick et al., 2014). Children go through cultural dissonance in negotiating different expectations between home and educational spaces. Culturally responsive pedagogy embracing home languages, family involvement, and recognition of diverse cultural norms helps children to feel valued and supported (Gay, 2018).
The CALD families altogether provide potential strengths such as multilingualism, oral traditions, or community networks that construct the learning ecology (DEEWR, 2022). Nevertheless, teachers should be wary of unconscious bias or stereotyping that could impede the path towards inclusion. Making children aware of intercultural understanding creates an atmosphere of feeling and respect for others, which is very important in an ever-changing multicultural society (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2020).