Early Years Engagement Program
Supporting kindergartens in creating culturally safe and celebratory spaces.
On this page
- About the Early Years Engagement Program
- Benefits of accessing the program
- Respecting cultural identity
- How to access the program
About the Early Years Engagement Program
The Early Years Engagement Program (EYEP) builds the capability of Early Childhood services to better incorporate First Nations perspectives into their service design, delivery and practice.
The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) manages the EYEP, which aims to support services not connected with other cultural development activities.
Eight Facilitators across Victoria assist services in their journey to embed First Nations perspectives.
Benefits of accessing the program
The program helps improve the cultural inclusivity of early years’ services. This may include:
- Supporting services to include First Nations perspectives into their service design and delivery.
- Encouraging services to connect with local Aboriginal organisations and groups.
- Improving access for First Nations children and families through promoting resources.
- Developing understanding of protocols to respectfully engage with First Nations community.
Respecting cultural identity
Kindergartens work hard to create culturally safe places for First Nations children and families and include Aboriginal perspectives in the learning curriculum and environment.
The ‘VAEAI Koorie early years: best practice and protocols – a practitioner’s guide’ provides guidance on how best to incorporate First Nations perspectives into early childhood services and increase inclusion of Aboriginal families through respectful use of protocols and local Koorie structures and community.
How to access the program
For early years services interested in accessing the EYEP, you can:
- attend your area Early Years Learning Network meeting
- contact your local Early Childhood Improvement Branch
- self-referral webform: Early Years Engagement Program referral(opens in a new window).
For questions, please contact early.years.participation@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
Early childhood education and care
Updated 27 March 2026
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