Support to child care services       

Inclusive Directions provides support to child care services that includes practical advice and access to a range of supports designed to strengthen the service’s ability to create a quality care environment inclusive of all children. These supports include providing onsite assistance with developing Service Support Plans (SSPs), facilitating access to specialist equipment, general resources, professional support, funding through Flexible Support Funds (FSF) or Inclusion Support Subsidy (ISS), and bicultural support. 

Inclusive Directions employs Inclusion Support Facilitators (ISFs) to work at the local level with child care services. Our ISFs are highly experienced and competent in:

• guiding change in child care services
• child development and inclusive practice
• adult learning principles
• coaching and mentoring
• reflective practice
• strengths-based practice and capacity building approaches
• learning organisations
• innovation and change in child care theory and practice
• interdisciplinary team work and interagency collaboration
• family-centred practice
• cross-cultural competence.

Our inclusion support assists services to:

• identify policies and practices that facilitate inclusion of children with additional needs
• develop, implement and sustain inclusive policies and practices
• develop Service Support Plans 
• provide information in response to identified needs
• link and work with relevant community groups, organisations and services
• work in partnership with families and local support networks
• identify professional development needs through coaching and mentoring.

Our Inclusion Support Faciltators assist services to implement the Inclusion Support Subsidy (ISS) by:

• (once approved for ISS funding) completion of the review of SSPs to identify whether ISS is required for a further period of time
• promoting an awareness of, and responsiveness to, the identified priority groups within services
• assisting services to prepare application and other ISS forms
• providing information to the National ISS Provider (NISSP) as required.

To speak to an ISF or to arrange a visit please contact your nearest office.