Inclusion Support Agency - Far North Qld

(back from left) Roz, Alice, Di, Kelly K (front from left) Cheryl, Lorraine Natasha, Josie and Tricia

ISAFNQ, is part of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program, funded by the Australian Government and is responsible for managing and coordinating access to quality inclusion support that is relevant, appropriate and timely for all eligible child care services within our region.

ISAFNQ assist child care services to include children with additional needs in child care. Inclusion Support Facilitators assist child care services to build their skill base and capacity to include children with additional needs.

The Target groups for inclusion support are:

• Children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, including refugee children
• Children with ongoing high support needs, including children with a disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

The Inclusion Support Program is a coordinated, national approach for child care services in regional, rural and remote Australia.

This Agency employs Inclusion Support Facilitators who are qualified and experienced in Early Childhood who work at a local level with child care services. ISF’s will provide practical advice and facilitate 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 will include, but are not limited to:

• Visiting the child care services regularly
• Assisting in the development of the Service Assisted Readiness Inclusion Plan, to allow services to reflect on their skills and abilities to include all children into their program
• Supporting staff to include children with additional needs (from the target group/s)
• Facilitating the Development of Service Support Plans to support the inclusion of children with disabilities
• Identifying where Inclusion Support Subsidy is required, to allow additional funding as a ‘subsidy’ toward an additional staff member
• Consider Flexible Support Funding for short term support for child care workers
• Identifying the need for ‘bicultural support’
• Supporting the inclusion of all children, regardless of their background and including those with additional needs.
• Assist with the development of individual ideas and suggestions to meet the child’s specific needs

Families need to feel confident that those who work in child care have access to the skills and professional support they need to do their jobs well.

Downloads

Request for Assistance

Inclusion and Professional Support Program Guidelines