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Inclusion Support Agencies
Inclusion Support Agencies are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in Australian Government Approved Childcare Services (AGACCS).
Child Australia’s PSCNT work closely with the 2 Inclusion Support Agencies in NT to meet the professional development and support needs of all eligible early childhood services in NT. PSCNT’s professional development support can also be accessed through referral by Inclusion Support Agencies.
The aim of Inclusion Support Agencies is to provide eligible early childhood services with practical supports so that they can provide quality inclusive environments for all children including those with additional needs.
“Additional needs” are defined as:
- children with disabilities;
- children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including humanitarian refugee background; and
- Indigenous children.
Inclusion of children with additional needs is achieved through a capacity building approach by which Inclusion Support Facilitators work with services to identify both their strengths and those areas in which extra support may be required.
Inclusion Support Facilitators work directly with eligible Childcare services to:
- respond to requests and referrals for inclusion support from Childcare services, PSC and IPSU;
- identify practices that facilitate inclusion of children with additional needs in Childcare settings;
- undertake Assisted Inclusion Readiness (AIR) planning with Childcare services;
- assist Childcare services to develop Service Support Plans;
- provide or source information in response to identified needs;
- assist services to link with relevant community groups, services and organisations
- support Childcare services to identify their professional development needs and opportunities; and
- support services to engage in ongoing reflective practices and continuous improvement.
Who can access Inclusion Support?
Childcare services which are eligible for Childcare Benefit can seek support from an ISA. This includes:
- Long Day Care;
- Outside School Hours Care and Vacation Care;
- Family Day Care;
- Occasional Care; and
- In-home Care.
Childcare services funded under the Budget Based Funding Program are also eligible.
How to access Inclusion Support
NT Inclusion Support Agency Region 1
Early Childhood Australia (Darwin based) are the Inclusion Support Agency for the Northern Region of the Northern Territory.
Address: 71 Coonawarra Rd, Winnellie NT 0821
Phone: (08) 8986 7142
Fax: (08) 8947 2884
Email: ecant@earlychildhood.org.au
NT Inclusion Support Agency Region 2
Children’s Services Support Program (CSSP) (Alice Springs based) are the Inclusion Support Agency for the Central region of the Northern Territory. CSSP's support reaches as far north as Newcastle Waters, west to the communities of Kintore and Kaltukagara (Docker River), east to Ampilatwatja and south to Erldunda.
Address: 1st Floor Eurilpa House, 25 Todd Mall
Postal: PO Box 2279 Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8953 4059
Fax: (08) 8952 2520
Email: enquiries@childrenservices.com.au
Inclusion Support services are free and can be accessed by contacting the local ISA (see above) or the PSCNT Helpline on 1800 138 662.
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Contact Us
71 Coonawarra Road,
Winnellie, Darwin NT, 0811
PO Box 41936, Casuarina, NT 0811
Support Line: 1800 138 662
Facsimile: (08) 8947 2884
Email: info@childaustralia.org.au
Need Help?
Contact the PSCNT Support Line on 1800 138 662.
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