Positions Vacant

Position: Inclusion Support Facilitators (ISF)
 
Classification: SACS Award (Level 5.1) Hourly Rate: (PPT rate is $22.44) + 9% Super
 
Responsible to: Program Coordinator
 
Hours of Work:
Position 1: Permanent Part Time, 32  hours per week
Position 2: Permanent Part Time, 24  hours per week
 
Successful applicant must hold Suitability Card (Blue Card) and undergo Personal History Check (under the Child Protection Act 1999)
 
Service Description
 
The Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) is a component of the Australian Government’s Child Care Services Support Program.  It is integral to promoting and supporting the Government’s National Quality Agenda of supporting child care services to be inclusive of all children.
 
The Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) is funded by the Commonwealth Government Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.  It is designed to improve the accessibility and quality of Commonwealth funded Children’s Services for children, particularly those who have with additional needs.  These services include:
  • Long Day Care, Occasional Care,
  • Family Day Care,
  • In Home Care,
  • Before/After School Care and Vacation Care.
 
The Inclusion Support Agency (ISA) assigns priority to children from the following groups who may require additional support to access mainstream child care programs:
  • children with a disability,
  • children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and
  • children who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
 
The Inclusion Support Program will provide assistance and support to help child care services to include children with additional needs into the child care environment. The program delivered through regionally based Inclusion Support Agencies that coordinate the assistance provided by a network of field workers, known as Inclusion Support Facilitators (ISF’s). 
 
Queensland currently has 13 ISA’s covering urban, regional and remote areas.  ISA Sunshine Coast is sponsored by Sunshine Coast Link Family Scheme Inc, has an office located in Palmwoods and supports child care services in the region  from Caloundra in the south to Noosa in the north. The team is currently comprised of three Inclusion Support Facilitators (ISF’s) an Administration Officer and a Program Coordinator.
 
Position Objectives
 
  • To build the capacity of child care services to create an inclusive environment for all children and families, that supports their well being and development,
  • To promote  awareness of and responsiveness to the identified priority groups within child care services and.
  • To support child care services to be better informed about quality issues including knowledge of the Australian Government  National Quality Agenda and Early Years Learning Framework
 
Key Responsibilities
 
To assist child care services to respond to the needs of children in the priority groups through the provision of high quality, inclusive environments by:
 
  • Providing or sourcing information and support in response to child care service inclusion needs,
  • Supporting services to develop, implement and sustain flexible, inclusive practices,
  • Assisting services to link with relevant community groups, services and organisations,
  • Supporting services to work in partnership with families and support networks,
  • Assisting child care services to identify professional development needs and opportunities,
  • Supporting services to engage in ongoing reflective and improvement practices,
  • Acting in a professional manner at all times and in accordance with the principles of Quality Assurance guided by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC),
  • Maintaining confidentiality in all matters and information pertaining to children, families and childcare services,
  • Maintaining appropriate and up to date records and documentation to support the child/service and ISA requirements and those required under the Department of Family, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs funding guidelines, and
  • Providing orientation and induction support to new members of the ISA team as determined by the Program Coordinator.
 
Knowledge  Required
 
Knowledge and understanding of:
  • Child development (including the relationship between culture and understandings of child development),
  • The philosophy of inclusion and associated best practice,
  • Children and families from the priority groups,
  • Reflective practice (individual and organisational),
  • Strength based approaches,
  • Collaborative approaches to change,
  • Adult learning principles,
  • Australian Government child care services sectors, relevant resources and supports.
 
Skills and Experience
 
Ability to effectively utilise:         
  • Interpersonal communication skills (written and verbal) to facilitate collaboration and partnerships,
  • Reflective practice that supports services to engage in evaluation and ongoing development,
  • Partnership approaches to support the implementation of change,
  • Ability to manage own time and resources, analyse and set priorities;
  • Work in accordance with the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics
  • Ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately with and understand the needs of both service providers and families of children from the priority groups
 
Selection Criteria
 
  1. Qualifications in early childhood /social sciences/community services or human services and/or proven ability and experience in working with children with additional needs, including children with a disability, children from culturally and/or linguistically backgrounds and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
  2. Knowledge of the current National Early Years Reform Strategies
  3. Knowledge and experience in applying the principles of adult learning
  4. Ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately with and understand the needs of both service providers and families of children from the priority groups
  5. Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member, including well developed strategies for problem solving and decision making.
  6. Highly developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
  7. Well developed IT skills including experience in data entry and word processing.
  8. Awareness of regulations, standards and guidelines applicable to children's services 
  9. Knowledge and understanding of the Inclusion Professional Support Program
  10. Applicants will be required to hold a current Queensland Drivers License and have the ability to work flexible hours.  A reliable vehicle is also required for the position (mileage reimbursed)
 
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The Inclusion Support Agency – Sunshine Coast is funded by
the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
and is sponsored by Sunshine Coast Link Family Scheme Inc.
 
Please forward all applications to:
 
Inclusion Support Faciliatator Position
The Program Coordinator
Inclusion Support Agency Sunshine Coast
PO Box 417
Palmwoods Qld 4555
 
or
 
Email - isasc@optusnet.com.au
with the subject heading: Inclusion support Facilitator Position
 
All applications must be received by the 18th of January 2010 and must address each item in the selection criteria.
 
All applicants will receive confirmation that their application has been received.