How Montessori Education is Revolutionizing the Way Children Learn and Thrive: The Montessori Children’s Foundation

The mission of the Montessori Children’s Foundation is to provide access to Montessori programs for children in Australia who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate. The foundation is currently focusing on Indigenous and remote communities, where access to quality education and support is limited due to long distances from the centers of Australian government decision-making, service delivery, and economic activity, as well as a history of invasion, appropriation, and neglect. Despite these challenges, there is a strong desire for a better future within these communities and a recognition that the future rests with the children. The foundation’s primary focus is on early childhood education, which is guided by four key principles.

• Partnership

Collaborating with essential institutions in local areas fosters a sense of responsibility and dedication, and links us to the efforts of other groups dedicated to promoting the welfare of children.

• Sustainability

For remote community programs to be long-lasting, it is crucial that the community possesses the skills to oversee, enhance, and carry them out. MCF invests in two primary areas, and one of them is to equip the community with Montessori training, specifically in the 0-3 and 3-6 age groups. Alongside this, they strive to establish a solid basis of local knowledge and expertise.

• Quality

The cultivation of quality practice requires ample time and support, typically nurtured in a professional setting where seasoned practitioners extend guidance and aid to novice counterparts. In remote areas, however, access to a pool of Montessori experts and their knowledge is limited, making mentorship a crucial investment for us.

• Flexibility

Due to the unique situations of remote communities, the traditional methods for setting up and overseeing Montessori services and training programs are not feasible. To ensure success, it is necessary to be adaptable in both the creation and execution of these programs while still upholding high standards and maintaining consistency in practices.

Aurukun

In 2017, MCF provided financial assistance to the Koolkan Childcare Centre Educator Support Project. This support allowed for a series of mentor visits to take place at the center during the first half of the year. The organization would like to express its appreciation to the Montessori trainers and consultants who worked alongside the center staff and families in Aurukun. The goal was to support the growth and development of young children, including babies and infants. Unfortunately, due to changes in staffing and management, MCF was unable to continue supporting the school holiday programs. However, the organization intends to maintain its partnership with the Shire Council to provide Montessori programs, including the school holiday programs, to Koolkan in the future.

Mapoon Community and Family Engagement Project

At the end of 2016, representatives from MCF paid a visit to Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council to have a meeting with community leaders and provide them with information about Montessori education. As a result, the Council collaborated with MCF to allocate funds for engaging with the local community to incorporate Montessori principles and practices. In February 2017, members of the Mapoon Shire Council visited the Torres Strait to observe Montessori programs initially.

Lockhart River

Back in 2014, MCF collaborated with the Puuya Foundation located in Lockhart River, Cape York community. During this period, MCF was already working with the Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council which planned on building and operating an early childhood center in the community. The Kuunchi Kakana Centre was officially opened in 2016 and presently operates a Montessori babies program and other activities. The Renner Family Foundation granted MCF $10,000 in 2017, which was utilized in providing ongoing mentoring support for the 15 Montessori Assistants Course graduates from the Lockhart River community. This program has continued to increase the impact and growth of Montessori early childhood programs in Lockhart River. The goal is to have a growing number of Montessori early childhood professionals in Lockhart River who can provide peer mentoring. Therefore, there is a need to have a support program in place for the existing staff in the future. 

Currently, pro bono services are being utilized to carry out research that measures the impact of this work through parent interviews and other methods. The results from previous research have been overwhelmingly positive and transformational.

Torres Strait

The partners involved in the development of the new Strategic Plan for Montessori education in the Torres Strait have reaffirmed their commitment to the belief that education is essential for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life for individuals, families, and communities. They also believe that families and communities should be empowered to make informed choices regarding their children’s education, including the opportunity to access Montessori education. To achieve this, the partners aim to develop a sustainable model of service delivery for Montessori education that builds on the capacity of Torres Strait Islanders, provides high-quality pedagogy, and engages families and communities. Currently, there are eleven Strait Start programs operating across various islands in the Torres Strait. On National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, the partners launched the Strait Start YouTube channel and parenting videos to promote early childhood development in the Torres Strait. Tagai State College primary campuses also hosted events to celebrate the release of these videos.

Strait Start YouTube Channel

The YouTube Channel is an extension of the successful Strait Start program, which is specifically tailored for families with young children in the Torres Strait. The program uses familiar images and theories from the Montessori Education approach to support and enhance families’ confidence, skills, and capacity to create the best conditions for their children’s development. Moreover, Tagai State College and YUMI Education Inc. have distributed particular wooden rattles to infants through their primary campuses. Additionally, the partners plan to distribute these rattles to all newborn babies in the Torres Strait starting in 2018.

Fouress Foundation Support

In 2017, the Fouress Foundation granted $30,000 to provide particular assistance to mentoring and professional growth in the Torres Strait Islands. MCF projects have been receiving unwavering support from the foundation for the past decade, and we are truly appreciative of their generous donation.

Indigenous Montessori Conference 

The first Indigenous Montessori Conference in Cairns was organized by MCF, YUMI Education, and Trinity Beach State School. The event was attended by 18 staff members from 11 of the Torres Strait Islands, providing them with a unique opportunity for professional development. The conference was led by a Montessori trainer and Indigenous Montessori mentors, enabling Montessori educators to exchange their experiences, explore best practices, and establish professional connections. This conference was particularly significant in that it involved the contribution of Indigenous Montessori professionals, who can serve as mentors and help ensure the sustainability of Montessori programs in the Torres Strait.