IPSP

The Australian Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded the IPSP to meet the inclusion and professional support needs of child care services and Inclusion Support Agencies in Tasmania with an integrated and consolidated approach.
Each state and territory has a Professional Support Coordinator responsible for operating the program according to nationally consistent guidelines and priorities with the aims of:

  • promoting and maintaining high quality care and inclusion for all children in eligible child care services in Tasmania, by increasing the skill level of carers and service staff in line with nationally consistent principles; and
  • providing children’s services in Tasmania, regardless of their geographic location, with access to quality professional support which is relevant, appropriate and timely.

PsCTas will develop, oversee and manage the delivery of the IPSP program to children’s services and Inclusion Support Agencies in Tasmania, based on needs determined by statewide needs analyses, consultations and ongoing requests for support through the freecall Helpline, email and this website.

A range of suitably qualified Professional Support Service Providers (PSSPs) will be engaged to deliver training and support to meet the identified needs of services. PSSPs will be selected and contracted by PsCTas in an open, transparent and accountable manner.

The IPSP National Priorities will ensure a level of national consistency in professional support for key areas and will be reflected in each PSC’s Service Delivery Implementation Plan. All state and territory PSCs will contribute to a National Alliance to identify current and future professional support strengths, including opportunities for innovation in the sector and information sharing on quality practice.

National priorities

National Priorities are expected to be reviewed every three years, but may also be amended within the life of the agreement to reflect changes in Australian Government priorities. For the period 2005-08 the priorities are :

  • supporting and promoting high quality programs for children, with a focus on developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes underpinning quality care, including:
    • early and middle childhood development theory and practice
    • program development and service provision that meets the needs of children and families
    • development of policies and procedures that deliver high quality programs to meet the needs of all children, including those with additional needs
    • support for obtaining and maintaining the standards as set by the national Child Care Quality Assurance systems
  • supporting child care services in managing a high quality service, including:
    • business and financial management and viability
    • human resource management and industrial and workforce issues
    • strategic planning
    • corporate governance.
  • supporting development of leadership skills, within the child care industry, such as effective team management and conflict resolution, including enhancing the diversity of people in leadership roles.
  • supporting child care services, in the context of quality program provision, to provide an inclusive environment, including culturally inclusive programming and cross cultural communication skills, on which Inclusion Support Facilitators can build with more specialist support.
  • providing Inclusion Support Facilitators and Bicultural Support Workers with relevant and appropriate professional support including advice, training and resources to support them in enhancing the capacity of child care services to provide an environment inclusive of all children, including those with additional needs.
  • providing a range of professional supports including advice, training and resources that are relevant and appropriate to the range of eligible child care services types, including centre-based care, family day care and outside school hours care.