Peel Regional Children's Services Plan - Implementation Report

Peel Regional Children's Services Plan - Implementation Report 31st October 2015 “Developed through the Regional Community Child Care Development Fund administered by the Department of Local Government and Communities and funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.” Child Australia Inc.

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Date: 31st October 2015

Author: KA Cugley Regional Development Officer for Child Australia Inc.

1 PROJECT REPORT

The Regional Children’s Services Plan (the plan) two year Project commenced 31st October 2013 based on the successful Tender by Child Australia Inc. The

Peel Regional Development Officer commenced with Child Australia to initiate the project in February 2014, working towards achieving a strategic,

coordinated approach to the development of services that support families and children in the region. The plans will also provide an opportunity to

strengthen and/or improve the level of quality of existing education and care services through better planning of service delivery and/or business models,

training and development, recruitment and governance

Overarching integral components of the Regional Community Child Care Development Fund for the development of the plan was the provision of support to community managed regional education and care service (ECEC and or the sector) providers to assist them:

• to better understand and comply with, the National Quality Framework (NQS) for Education and Care services, mandated Nationally and • to work towards long term viability and sustainability.

The Plan Project components included:

• Production of a Regional Children’s Services Plan

• Support the development and/or maintenance of regional Children’s Services interagency structures (new or existing) including developing

ongoing sustainability options and:

• Support the development and sustainability of regional Children’s Services through the implementation of agreed strategies recommended

as part of the Regional Children’s Services Plan and:

• Production of a Regional Children’s Plan Implementation report.

PEEL Regional Children’s Services Plan - Implementation Report Regional Community Child Care Development Fund Project (Royalties for Regions)

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Child Australia, a NFP, non-government organisation (NGO) is dedicated to improving developmental outcomes for children through education, early

childhood services, family support and advocacy. The project met a need previously identified by the organisation and is closely aligned with Child

Australia’s Mission to develop the capacity of the ECEC and sector, families and the community to support children’s wellbeing, learning and development.

Child Australia’s values align with Universal Access to Early Childhood Education, quality inclusive care and a capacity building approach to service provision.

Stakeholders and Service Providers across the region were identified and collegial relationships developed and established with these key stakeholders.

The range of individuals and organisations included ECEC sector providers and broader children’s services and Local Government Area early years initiatives,

community members, Local Governments, State and Federal agencies and organisations, Not for Profit (NFP) providers, Training Organisations, Regional

bodies and Networks including Early Years Networks (EYNs).

To utilise a ground-up approach to inform the plan development, proposed implementation actions and access community and service provider input two

surveys were developed May 2014 and initiated through Survey Monkey. The first being face to face with community members to source preliminary data

regarding services available, current utilisation, gaps and local area needs. The second focused on ECEC and broader children’s services regarding their

current and projected service type delivery, utilisation of service, operational and strategic impacts of NQS implementation, other significant issues,

collaboration practices, whole sector promotional strategies and desired localised professional development and training needs.

Ongoing activities during the project phases have included the ongoing identification of regional trends and issues, liaising collaboratively with services,

stakeholders and key networks; including maintenance, governance support and the development of sustainable options moving forward, supporting and

working with local government areas on the provision/ delivery of children’s services types in to address identified needs, the provision of regular updates,

support for regional early years initiatives.

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1.1 Achievement of planned strategies

Strategy How was this implemented? Date implemented

Outcome / impact / benefits delivered (include measures)

Cost of implementation (if quantifiable)

Strategy 1: Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local & regional strengths. Accepted Action 1a Support the development of an information forum around the opportunities to run your own Family Day Care (FDC) small business in Peel sub-regional areas. Provide accurate and user friendly information regarding all of the laws governing small education and care services.

The development of a multi-agency collaborative community information workshop around the opportunities to run your own Family Day Care (FDC) small business in Peel sub-regional areas. Provision of accurate and user friendly information regarding the laws governing small education and care services, start-up information and minimum ECEC qualification attainment training options.

22nd September 2015 Shire of Waroona

Outcome: To create a growing and sustainable small education and care services market to support Regional economic development and workforce participation focus areas. Objective: Impact: SHORT TERM, supporting the development of new and existing services in rural and regional areas unable to be measured post this project.

Benefit: Support increased workforce participation, information dissemination and small ECEC business development in LGA’s lacking in ECEC care options and services - action transferred/included within Peel Workforce Development Plan 2015-2018 Proposed Action 4. 3 for continuance.

Marketing Newspaper ads Venue Catering RDO FTE Travel

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Strategy 1: Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local & regional strengths. Action 1b Develop and pilot a sustainable Governance Structure which provides management support for FDC co-ordination units and includes dissemination of relevant information (fact sheets) and future funding opportunities - Community Support Program. Links with Action 1a above and Actions 1c & 4c below and Strategies 2 & 4.

Not within RCSP project funding Action not required to be delivered.

Strategy 1: Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local & regional strengths. Action 1c Scoping and research study development project to explore, identify and develop models for sustainable and viable governance structure practices for community managed ECEC services (CMS). Links with Action 1b & Strategies 2 & 4.


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Strategy 1: Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local & regional strengths. Accepted Action 1d Establish a workplace forum for employers and job seekers with the focus being on the ECEC sector. To build on the success of the previous facilitated event through the Regional Education Skills and Job Plan – Peel 2014. Regional Job Services Agencies (JSA’s) to facilitate.

NOT IMPLEMENTED: Due to recent Federal Government employment services system changes and re-tender processes. Job Search Agencies (JSA’s) no longer exist; they have transitioned into Job Active Providers. Securing buy-in from new Job Active providers during transitioning and transfer of vast quantities of registered unemployed clients has been a barrier. (possibly because JSA's knew of upcoming changes but could not share that information as tenders for these contracts were active)

Not able to be implemented

Outcome: Job seekers gain relevant sector training information, practical interview skills, and employment or traineeship opportunities within ECEC sector. Impact: None at present

Benefit: Support increased workforce participation, pathways and training opportunities in regional LGA’s – aspect of this action transferred/included within Peel Workforce Development Plan 2015-2018 Priority Proposed Action 1.4 - Career Expo’s for further development.

Strategy 2: Enable participation, access and contribute to current developing research projects. Action 2a Child Australia to investigate and conduct a research project to identify existing models of integrated children’s services hubs. Links with Actions 1c, 9a, b,c,d and Strategies 1, 4, 7 and 9.


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Strategy 3: Initiate & support development of collaborative WA Dept. of Education, cross-sector agencies & EY educator services Professional Development & planning opportunities. Accepted Action 3a Plan and deliver a practical collaborative Child Australia and Department of Education - AEDC WA, PD Forum and a series of Professional Development workshops targeted at early childhood educators to develop an understanding of the AEDC. Educators will utilise the information and data from the AEDC to influence curriculum planning in connection with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards Quality Areas 1, 5 and 6.

Delivery of 4 separate PD series Forum workshops through a collaborative partnership between Child Australia Inc and WA Department of Education AEDC WA, targeted at school & non-school ECEC educators and broader children’s services, to support meeting elements of National Quality Standards, Quality Areas 1, 5 & 6 to enhance and develop optimal child development teaching and learning opportunities and support ongoing service provider quality improvement.

19th June 20th July 10th August 24th August 2015

Outcome: The series provided and

supported the basis of a sustainable

regional cross sector knowledge base

regarding the development domains of

the AEDC to support positive AEDC

developmental outcomes for children in

the region. Enhancement of service

provider on going quality improvement

and educator practical curriculum

program planning practice and educator

reflective practice skills and knowledge

With direct links to NQS QA 1, 5 & 6.

Impact: SHORT TERM Workshop content

devised from two localised PD

needs/wants survey’s and current

regional AEDC WA data information as

explained in The Plan

Benefits: Based on participant’s

responses during workshop 2 AEDC WA

will embark on producing support

resources in line with QLD AEDC.

Resources for/with a WA context to

support ECEC services state-wide

incorporating AEDC into service &

curriculum planning practices.

Opportunities to carry action forward

state-wide.

Venues/catering x 4, Marketing flier, Printing of workshop resources, Participation certificates, Booking manager costs, Subsidies offered To FDC & OSHC services for Workshop 3, Facilitator – C Fewster RDO FTE, Travel, Facilitator support.

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Strategy 3: Initiate & support development of collaborative WA Dept. of Education, cross-sector agencies & ECEC educator services Professional Development & planning opportunities. Accepted Action 3b Develop a plan in conjunction with ECEC services and local schools to support effective school transitions and information sharing from early and middle childhood centres to schools.

RDO advocacy at local network meetings for School Transition’s to become regular/set network meeting agenda items for the Peel Education and Care Services Network (PECS) – achieved July 2014 and also Dudley Park Child and Parent Centre’s Local Area Committee (LAC) - achieved October 2014. To increase cross sector relationships the notion of establishing an informal café for shared planning was developed.

16th Sept 2015 12th Oct 2015

Outcome: The establishment of a regular cross sector School Transitions Network Cafe and a permanent agenda item on LAC and PECS meetings agendas. Action plan development for ECEC services and schools to carry forward into 2016. Impact: SHORT TERM – no RDO to measure or support initiative post this project Benefit: 2014 Federally disseminated ‘Continuity of Learning’ resource shared with WA school sector involved with this initiative. . Increased cross sector relationships and collaborative planning. Improved relationships and information transfer between schools, and ECEC services. Support schools and ECEC services meeting QA 6.2.1, 6.3.2 & 6.3.4 of NQS and support children's continuity of learning QA 1.1.1, 1.1.3 & 1.1.4.

RDO FTE Catering Travel

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Strategy 4: Support development and sustainability of ECEC services, broader services, initiatives and networks that support children and families. Accepted Action 4a To continue to support the development and maintenance of PECS and broader regional children's services interagency structure's. Develop an agreed action/outcomes framework to sustain a model for the network. Enable the provision of practical skills training & information sharing workshops during meetings.

Monthly network meeting. Governance by RDO Peel. In 2015 the PECS Network has had Guest speaker presentations and information workshops during meetings: FEB: Australian ChildCare Alliance WA MAR: Child Australia ACECQA QA 1 National workshop review JUNE: Early Intervention and referral practices - Marie Mckinley Intake coordinator and Speech pathologist Toby Hancock from the Peel Child Development Service – Mandurah Community Health. AUG: Lori Sharpe Education Officer from DCPFS Protective Behaviours Workshop and mandated reporting.

Third Tuesday of every month Feb 2014 – October 2015.

Outcome: Regular participation of ECEC sector members within network. Collaboration and responsibilities of different service types to manage network meetings and to use DropIN/EY Network platform has had limited up take. Network has been registered for support through the WACOSS EY project. Impact: MEDIUM- unable to measure post this project. Awaiting WACOSS EY network project support. Benefit: With RDO Peel governance this network has managed to stay active post Children’s Services Officer positions with DLGC ceasing Feb-May 2014. Negotiated FREE meeting space for 2016 at CPC Dudley Park.

RDO FTE Venue hire

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Strategy 4: Support development and sustainability of ECEC services, broader services, initiatives and networks that support children and families. Accepted Action 4b Plan and organise representation for regional child health professionals to attend PECS meetings - aim is for bi-annually, to provide information that will support EC educators to implement early intervention and referral practices.

Also in support of above Action 4a - RDO Peel negotiated (and received confirmation) with the Peel Child Development Service (CDS) Mandurah Community Health Team Leader to be attending at least one of these meetings per year. Two CDS representatives attended the Intake Co-ordinator & Head Speech pathologist to share early intervention strategies and referral practices.

16th June 2015 Outcome: Transfer of professional knowledge cross sector to support early intervention practices, referrals and inclusion support. CDS indicated at the meeting they would like to attend no less than two meetings with this network per year - topics to be based on indicators of referrals from regional intake data. Impact: SHORT – Relevant information transfer may be limited due to high staff turnover and transient of sector educators. Benefit: Increased community partnerships. Shared pool of resources and increased knowledge base for the ongoing improvement and early intervention opportunities for children and families in the region.

RDO FTE Venue

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Strategy 5 Improve and enable access to early year’s sector information for collaborative cross sector multi-agency localised Professional development opportunities. Accepted Action 5a Build on and promote Child Australia’s Professional Development (PD) Calendar and Online Learning Centre training programs that target early and middle childhood services.

RDO Peel provided Child Australia’s Professional Support Coordinator (PSC Alliance) program with the results of two separate targeted Professional Development needs information scoping surveys for the Region.

October 2014 – November 2015

Outcome: Increased access and opportunities for early and middle year’s sector services to provide input into locally facilitated and online Professional Development opportunities. Impact: MEDIUM – PSC Federal funding limits the type and amount of contact directly to ECEC services to fully scope PD needs. Benefit: The region has had 11 focused and targeted PD opportunities offered from June - Oct 2015 - this also includes the four collaborative AEDC workshops – accepted action 3a above.

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Strategy 5 Improve and enable access to early year’s sector information for collaborative cross sector multi-agency localised Professional development opportunities. Accepted Action 5bi Develop and trial a central web access point for Peel Regional Children's Services Plan and Children's Services and network information and activities from the Child Australia website which includes the development of a regionally based PD calendar with input of calendar events from all identified regional children's services providers and stakeholders.

Peel Children's Services Plan and associated information is available via the Child Australia website. Email notification and web links sent to all RDO Peel contacts and relevant stakeholders to access the Plan and online learning Centre and other Professional Development (PD) information, including Child Australia’s bi-annual PD calendar. Regional Children’s Services Plan events are also located on Child Australia website under events tab.

March 2015 Outcome: Peel Regional Children’s Services plan available via the Child Australia website. Impact: Unmeasurable Benefit: ONLY PRIMARILY ACTIONED Limited buy in from regional stakeholders for sharing information to create a local regional PD calendar – ready reckoner type document. No tangible benefit.

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Strategy 5 Improve and enable access to early year’s sector information for collaborative cross sector multi-agency localised Professional development opportunities. Accepted Action 5bii Develop and deliver a monthly online newsletter or e-blast notification for subscription by services, parents and stakeholders to promote the Early Years, activities and resources delivered under Peel Regional Children's Services Plan.

Email circulation to regional ECEC services and broader children’s services stakeholders via Mail Chimp Newsletter format – consolidation of information that has/is regularly shared to stakeholders as part of RDO Peel work practices, these can be daily & weekly via email.

June July August September

Outcome: Subscribers/recipients experience an informed accessible Children's Services and Early Years update for Peel. Impact: SHORT TERM unable to find a regional stakeholder or network willing to take carriage of a Peel Children's Services newsletter. Measures indicate that of the 108 recipients, 97% of subscribers receive the newsletter successfully with less than 50% opening the newsletter, 8% of subscribers regularly click on links to resources and other sector information. Benefit: Subscribers are regularly informed, engaged, supported and accessing new, relevant updates, event information, current research and varied critical educator/service delivery tips and links to resources to support regulated QA's of NQS to increase & improve cross sector relationships and building a sustainable regional knowledge base.

RDO FTE

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Strategy 5 Improve and enable access to early year’s sector information for collaborative cross sector multi-agency localised Professional development opportunities. Accepted Action 5biii Develop and promote localised digital presentation of key speakers & aspects of Child Australia's - Understanding Behaviour Conference - Self Regulation Sessions - break out workshop/presentation sessions via regional EY & ECEC Networks.

UNABLE TO ACTION TO DATE The taped material from this conference is unfortunately unavailable due to recording quality and intellectual property. Subsequently Self-Regulation PD workshops 1 & 2 have been offered via PSC Calendar in the Peel Region June and August 2015. Based on PD needs survey responses October 2014 – Feb 2015.

July – October 2015.

Outcome: Services have opportunity for localised PD highlighting current research regarding impacts & trauma affecting children's behaviour and strategies to assist service delivery, educator program planning focusing on self-regulation and early intervention practices. Impact: LOW Benefit: Increase in ECEC and Non ECEC services access to self-regulation and behaviour indicator/ management practices professional development opportunities.

Strategy 6 Support and increase local government community partnerships and collaboration practices. Action 6a Establish quarterly Early Years focus network meetings for community development officers located in the PEEL region.

Not within RCSP project funding Action not required to be delivered. Implementation embedded through approved action 9a see below.

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Strategy 7 Initiate and support collaborative cross sector initiatives and relationships. Action 7a Support the delivery of the developing ACECQA parental information promotional Strategy and Web page “starting blocks” through regionally based networks & broader children's services agencies.

RDO Peel contacted ACECQA ‘Starting Blocks” Project leader on behalf of the Peel region and other interested RDO’s and negotiated hard copy resource packs to be forwarded for dissemination by RDO’s to all regional ECEC services and other broader children’s services and community resource centres, state wide. Not within RCSP project funding

May – June 2015.

Action not required to be delivered. Outcome: An increase in other (7) Regional Development Officers and general community awareness about the critical importance of EY development opportunities and the positive contributions quality ECEC services play in supporting children's development. Impact: SHORT TERM – relies on services now accessing relevant information to provide to families. Benefit: Through Regional Development Officers – State Wide information support in providing and resourcing services with National information site poster, fliers, and brochures regarding quality opportunities for young children. ECEC and Child Health services now have a quality assured parenting information site to direct new families too, regarding choosing quality ECEC care option and child development milestones and tips.

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Strategy 7 Initiate and support collaborative cross sector initiatives and relationships. Accepted Action 7b Support Playgroup WA Project leader to establish School Enhancement Playgroups on school sites in identified areas of vulnerability and social need.

Playgroup WA Project leader & RDO Peel engage regularly. Dec 2014 Project Support provided via RDO Peel via the forwarding of the projects schools needs survey to regional Principals, local schools and Child and Parent Centre. RDO Peel has engaged and consulted with two regional principal networks and secured network invites for Playgroup WA School Enhancement Playgroup Team information dissemination and presentations.

11/9/15 Mandurah Education Network 18/9/15 Murray Education Network

Outcome: Dissemination of relevant information and attendance at the two Regional Principals network meetings for further information dissemination to ALL State regional primary schools. Impact: Unmeasurable as part of this project end date, due to start up dates of proposed playgroups – 2016 – Playgroup WA data. Benefit: Playgroups on school sites assist school sector developing and forging relationships with community families and children prior to attending formal schooling.

Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8a Plan a series of interactive play based community and family information events, during family weeks May 2015, each event will include parent information, resources and promotion of the Raising Children's network site. Links with Actions 3a & 8b, 8c


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Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8b Promote the federally funded National quality assured online parent resource the Raising Children’s Network (RCN) and their 'My Neighbourhood' service directory & events tabs at community events and through services.

Not within RCSP project funding Based on the Parents and Carers Community survey with 79 respondents from across the region, 74.38% identified websites/the internet as the most popular source when seeking/finding information and support to assist with bringing up children. Successful negotiations with the RCN site administrators and ECEC services to populate Peel data on 'My Neighbourhoods'. Accurate service mapping provided to RCN. Automated message set up to remind services to update their listing every six months

May 2014 – August 2015.

Action not required to be delivered. Outcome: Promote RCN site regionally as a one stop shop online resource for parenting, community events and services localities. IMPACT: Short term – currently relies on services to upload their own service information and direct families to the site. Benefit: Federally funded until 2020, quality assured research based resource site currently utilised by Parenting WA for their clients. Through regular consults by RDO Peel with RCN, to build platform of the My neighbourhood tab - towards the end of this year any user upload service information will show up in a general search opposed to users needing to select this option, also two promotional bundles containing relevant RCN website and parenting support information, for regional dissemination through PECS, PEYG, The Parents Place and Parenting WA. RDO Peel also disseminated RCN information to other RDO’s and arranged promotional bundles to be forwarded to them.

RDO FTE

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Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8c Support Boddington Early Years Group (BEYG) to facilitate a community messy play event and initiate and support their first families week events including promotion of Raising Children's Network. Links with Actions 8a, 8b


Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8d Facilitate and negotiate agreement and input into a regular (monthly - bi monthly) children’s services column/page in local media publications that features articles on Early Childhood Education services promoting the importance of play, child development, quality care. Links to Strategies 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9


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Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8e Expand and extend on the existing early year's directory that has been compiled by the Peel Early Years Group which is currently focused on services located in Mandurah. Identify an appropriate database for an online Children's Services directory.


Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Action 8f Initiate and develop the hosting of a regional Sector Excellence Awards and Dinner following on from recent rural and regional examples across the country which recognise leaders and educator’s individual exemplary contributions to and for the children and families in the region. Links with Strategies 1, 4, 6, 7 & 9


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Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Accepted Action 9a Establish a strategic level Regional Children’s Priorities Alliance that has representation from all recognised and relevant stakeholders. A purpose of the strategic alliance group will identify local AEDC champions for 2016 and support the submission of funding applications, advocacy and contribute to the collaborative planning of Early and Middle years events/issues. NB: This action also includes the incorporation of SUPPORTED but NOT APPROVED Strategy 6 – Support and increase Local Government community partnerships and collaborative practices - ACTION 6a Establish quarterly Early Years focus network meetings for community development officers/managers located in the PEEL region, with the objective to enable information sharing, peer mentoring and collaborative events & planning practices between regional LGA's through regular meetings.

July-Sept 2014 Initial consults and engagements with Peel Development Commission (PDC) commenced. Sept 2014 Alliance action based model and regional snapshot/roadmap developed and shared to stakeholders by RDO Peel and included within Peel Regional Children’s Services Plan. Oct 2014 Consults with Peel Workforce Development Plan (PWFDP) Alliance consultant & Peel Community Development Group (PCDG). 27 Nov 2014 Consults with PCDG & PWFD Alliance Jan 2015 & March 2015 additional Consults PWFDP and PDC and PCDG. August 2015 Child Australia to take carriage of this action in PWFDP moving forward. Sept 2015 – Independent facilitator contracted, workshop preparation to meet outcomes commenced. 15th Oct 2015 – Inaugural regional workshop held. Workshop participants formalised the group and agreed to follow-up with an additional two workshops.

15th Oct 2015

Outcome: Foundations built for the Early Years as a regional priority focus and investment area, as reflected within Peel Investment Blueprints and Peel Workforce Development Plan. Strategic level Regional Priority Collaborative action based Children's Alliance formed from existing networks and other relevant children's services stakeholders to begin investigating developing a locally relevant model to work collaboratively. Impact: MEDIUM, if establishment and future governance/carriage continues as part of other Regional Strategic Planning as mentioned below. Benefit: Scoping of regional needs around the establishment of regional network to support increased career aspiration development and identification of main aims and similarities of existing EY network groups - action transferred/included within Peel Workforce Development Plan 2015-2018 for continuance, Priority Action 1.1.

Venue Catering RDO FTE Workshop facilitator costs

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Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Action 9b In collaboration with the PEEL Workforce Development Plan/Alliance consult with Shire of Waroona to consider the re-establishment of a community managed Education and care Service in Waroona. To build on a previous 'Waroona Child Care feasibility study'.

Not within RCSP project funding 2016-2018 Action not required to be delivered. Peel Development Commission Investment Blueprints is supporting the Shire of Waroona with development of a concept paper to support infrastructure upgrades to the Community Resource Centre to develop an integrated Children’s Services Hub which includes an ECEC service.

Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Accepted Action 9c Support and build upon the early years initiatives embedded within the Peel Investment Blueprints as an important new focus area for regional development and future regional growth and community wellbeing opportunities.

Ongoing engagements and consultations with Peel Development Commission with included strong advocacy and provision of quality assured research and relevant regional AEDC data, to ensure the inclusion of the early years in the Investment blueprints to support the themes – Capable people & Strong Resilient Communities as highlighted within blueprints.

Ongoing between June 2014 – October 2015.

Outcome: The early years have become a new focus area for regional investment blueprints and workforce participation and development. Regional Children's Services Plan forms base for future for children's services in the region. Impact: Projected LONG TERM – currently unmeasurable as the Blueprints have a twenty year trajectory. Benefit: Alignment, collaborative partnerships and synergies identified and reflected between three regional strategic planning documents.

RDO FTE

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Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Accepted Action 9d Explore the possibility to create innovative initiatives through a Collective Impact approach. To establish a working group that is represented through key stakeholders and then identifies the backbone organisation.

Through the implementation of approved action 3a – Facilitated collaborative partnerships - Child Australia, AEDC WA and ECEC service providers -workshop series forum, as documented above.

June – August 2015.

Outcome: Support identification of community partners and local champions. Support development of regional CI initiatives to support regional development planning. Impact: Unmeasurable at this stage. Future Benefit: To be incorporated into approved action 9a as part of regional collective formation.

Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Action 9e Support & work collaboratively with Nature Play WA to develop & create a Peel passport missions, which includes a localised cultural missions in conjunction with regionally based Noongar Early Years Action Group (NEYAG). Links with strategies 1, 4, 6, 7 & 8


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Strategy 9 Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives. Accepted Action 9f Develop a working document/table that aligns the intersections and links between this plan and other Commonwealth, State & Regional Local Government Area strategies, plans, and reports.

The development of word document table that identifies strategic and other links between Peel Children’s Services Plan, Peel investment blueprints and some Peel Workforce Development plan synergies. In support of all actions for Strategy 9 as mentioned above.

Outcome: Identification of points of intersection or alignment between the Peel Regional Children’s Services Plan and other plans, strategies or reports with relevance to supporting the delivery of children’s services in Peel. Impact: SHORT TERM – will become outdated, unless someone is continuing to align and update the document. Benefit: Point/tool for Strategic cross reference, may assist providing evidence/reference material and data for funding opportunities, no other benefits identified.

RDO FTE Consultant fees

ONE OFF Workforce Enhancement – Support services to meet Quality Area elements of NQS. Action: Services can contribute too and access current research. Supporting Nutrition in Australian Childcare (SNAC WA) website. Funded tertiary research project which provides free subscription for Online professional support and relevant nutrition and recipe information to assist services meeting elements of NQS QA2 Children's Health and Safety.

Increase support to services to adhere with local food acts and meet NQS QA 2 elements. Site developer Ruth Wallace informs PECS network.

August 2014 Outcome: All relevant services access FREE quality assured professional based information regarding food preparation that is adequately nutritionally based. IMPACT: relevant to identified needs at point in time – no measure available. Benefit: as per outcome and to support some OSHC services being no longer able to cook snacks for children in care due to local food act.

1.2 Outcomes delivered

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Many of the outcomes, objectives, strategies and actions were complex inter-related and dependant in nature, with some outcomes and objectives difficult

to quantify and measure within the given project time frame, due to the nature of planning for collaborative cross sector relationships. This includes the

strategies around stimulating collaborative regional activity through identifying and liaising with strategic key stakeholders and planning mechanisms. Key

outcomes achieved:

The ECEC sector and the critical importance of quality early years development opportunities advocated for, supported, facilitated– strategically

and with LGA’s - Raising Children’s Network http://raisingchildren.net.au/ and http://raisingchildren.net.au/myneighbourhood/ and Starting

Blocks http://www.startingblocks.gov.au/

Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local and regional strengths

o Family Day Care promoted as an option for Local Government Area’s currently lacking in ECEC services, with follow on carriage supported

through the Peel Workforce Development Plan 2015 – 2018 Priority Action Building Industry Capacity 4.3.

o Inclusion of ECEC sector relevant employment and study pathways during career expos planned as part of Peel Workforce Development

Plan 2015-2018 Priority Action Addressing Career Aspirations 1.4.

o Early Years is strong focus area for future regional economic investment through Regional Investment Blueprints and Workforce

Development Plan

Initiate and support development of collaborative Dept. of Education & cross-sector agencies and ECEC educator services Professional

Development & planning opportunities.

o Collaborative AEDC WA and Child Australia Inc, Professional Development x 4 Workshop Series Forum supporting the basis of sustainable

cross sector knowledge base regarding understanding children’s developmental domains and vulnerability, enhancing educator’s practical

curriculum planning, application and reflective practices in order to address elements of Quality Areas 1, 5 and 6 of the National Quality

Framework Standards.

o Initiate and support cross sector initiatives and relationships, with relationships established, developed and enhanced across sectors: Child

Health, Child Protection, Child and Parent Centre State School sector, Play Group WA, networks and ECEC sector for ongoing co-operation,

information dissemination and collaborative practices.

Support development and sustainability of ECEC services, broader services, initiatives and networks that support children and families.

Improve and enable access to early years sector information for collaborative cross sector multi-agency localised Professional development

opportunities

o Increased, locally relevant and identified targeted Professional Development opportunities hosted/delivered in the region through

Professional Support Coordinator Alliance (PSC) – Child Australia Inc.

Support and increase Local Government community partnerships and collaborative practices

http://raisingchildren.net.au/

http://raisingchildren.net.au/myneighbourhood/

http://www.startingblocks.gov.au/

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Enable access to parenting and service information for raising community awareness of the early years profile

Support local governments to develop and implement children and family services as per regional and local planning strategies and initiatives.

1.3 Residual outcomes

Initial support and information sharing with WACOSS Early Years Networks Project Officer resulting in a 2year funded project to increase

sustainability, viability and communications for networks.

Support for City of Mandurah Early Years Strategy “Better Start Better Future” outcomes and initiatives. Including developing Nature Play WA

innovations.

Opportunities to further showcase build upon and refine the development of collaborative cross sector, multi-agency culture utilising the Royal

Children's Hospital Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) evidence based Platforms Service Re-development and Building Family Partnerships

models, incorporating Collective Impact approach to developing and innovating locally relevant approaches/models.

Input and attendance at a RDO State Planning Session, hosted by Department Local Government and Communities September 2015 for State Wide

Children’s Service Plan Development.

Being on the federal agenda and a priority linked with Universal Access - AEDC WA regional child development (on track and vulnerability) data can

be utilised across all types of networks to inform priorities and actions and provide basis for ECEC educator planning practices to improve outcomes

for children into the future.

Child Australia Inc will continue to provide support and follow on of some approved actions for the region through the extension of the Regional

Development Officer position until the 31st December 2015.

1.4 Project issues

Child Australia Inc. adhered to all the requirements of the plan and contractual obligations including required reporting milestones and seeking clarification

from the Senior Project Officer when required. The project, expected to commence July 31st 2013 was delayed with the initial contractor meeting not held

until November 2013 and the final project planning framework guide not provided until February 2014. A challenging impact for the project overall and

most particularly for the implementation phase was the initial project time delay, shortening the time frames for implementation strategies/actions limiting

the adequate collection of qualitative and quantitative evaluation measures, thus placing some additional operational and strategic pressures on Child

Australia and RDO Peel to fully deliver objectives of the Implementation Plan.

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1.5 Implementation costs

In line with project funding budget $26,264 was spent on implementation costs in the Peel region. This figure does not include RTO staff cost.

2 FOLLOW-ON ACTIONS

Child Australia Inc. Executive Manager Service Delivery & Programs and two Regional Development Officers – Peel and Mid-West attended the State Wide

Planning Meeting hosted 25th September 2015 by the Manager Education and Care Legislation - Education and Care Legislation and Intergovernmental

Relations and Senior Project Officer Children’s Services Plan, Department Local Government and Communities to devise, contribute and input initiatives for

inclusion in the State Wide Children’s Services Plan. This included the following considered recommended strategic outcomes/strategies from RDO Peels

working group for inclusion in the State plan and/or as follow-up for additional phase/s for Regional Children’s Services Plan Projects:

HIGHEST PRIORITY - Develop Advisory cluster support model through State Government funded support instead of Operational and Strategic grants

funding. Cluster support model would envision a NFP/NGO delivery for cluster support to services.

HIGH PRIORITY - ECEC Workforce Development addressing retention, sustainability and qualification attainment.

HIGH PRIORITY – Develop/investigate viable communications platform that engages community, families, parents, carers and children’s services

MEDIUM PRIORITY - Develop multi agency collaborative family engagement strategy to support school transitions, practitioners and children.

MEDIUM PRIORITY – Liaise/advocate to Regional Development Commissions for addressing the early years and ECEC sector for inclusion in strategic

economic investment planning. Update regional Children’s Services Plans 2018

The following actions tabled below will be investigated, supported and built upon through the extension of the Regional Development Officer position until

31st December 2015, to further support Child Australia’s mission, vision, ethics and project investments within the region.

2.1 Future implementation of strategies

Strategy Proposed action to implement

Proposed date of implementation

Projected cost Expected outcome / impact / benefit

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Strategy 1: Provide regional connections and investigate ways to support and maximise local & regional strengths.

Accepted Action 1a Support the development of an information forum around the opportunities to run your own Family Day Care (FDC) small business in Peel sub-regional areas. Provide accurate and user friendly information regarding all of the laws governing small education and care services.

TBA 2016 Peel Workforce Development Plan 2015-2018

Unquantifiable at this stage.

Support regional strategic investment economic focus for increased workforce participation and small ECEC business development in LGA’s lacking in ECEC care options and services.

3a: Collaborative AEDC WA and Child Australia Professional development Workshop Series forums

Investigate options to carry this highly successful series to the State and other regions and communities with high child vulnerability data.

2016 Decrease in regional AEDC vulnerability 2018 - 2021. Upskilling and improving educators knowledge around the development domains of the AEDC and its delivery and enabling the making of links to the EYLF & NQS with practical application and educator critical reflective practice skills to benefit local educators to develop more targeted curriculum planning with measurable outcomes.

3b: School transitions “Continuity of learning”

Incorporate Open Door Services Tour with PD as a regular PSC calendar event (e.g. one every six months). To progress and support School transitions continuity of learning action plan initiatives.

2016 Sustained cooperation and relationships between schools, and ECEC services to support meeting/exceeding NQS QA1, QA5 and QA6. Enable service swaps/visits and access to joint PD opportunities for educators across ECEC and school sectors.

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4a: Peel Education and Care services (PECS) Network engagement

Communication engagement strategy delivered to PECS members to learn how to use the WACOSS collaborative tools.

Jan-June 2016 Focus area for sustainable PECS network through uptake of the Early Years Network Portal as a central collaboration tool for messages, project management, document storage, blog, resources and event calendar.

8e: Expand and extend on the existing early year's directory that has been compiled by the Peel Early Years Group which is currently focused on services located in Mandurah.

Identify an appropriate online database for a Children's Services directory. Seek to leverage and strengthen federally funded Raising Children Network (RCN) website.

2016 Dependant on RCN human resources or agency fees for RIS feed which is approx. $20 000.00 per region per annum.

Expected Outcome: Consolidate existing directories and support the Building of the site platform and the 'My Neighbour' tab on federally funded RCN site to include children's services and relevant community events from regions. Increased volume of information provided to regional users of the site. External agency linked RIS feed inputting and regularly updating service data information, one stop online port for access to vital information. IMPACT: HIGH and longer term Benefits: Shared regional point of reference and knowledge base for service providers and community members, regarding parenting information and service directory.

Strategy 8 Enabling access to parenting and service information and raising community awareness of the early year’s profile. Links with above strategy Touch screen kiosks – see lessons learnt summary below for additional information and a documented case study.

Touch screen kiosks in rural remote regional areas.

TBA $2 600 per kiosk

Expected Outcome: FREE technology access to regional community members regarding child development information and service location directory. IMPACT: MEDIUM – HIGH Benefits: People don’t need to own a phone or have an internet connection or know how to use the internet. Provides technology access to regional locations that may experience coverage difficulties and community members who do not have access to technology in their homes. Supports developing community hubs.

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9a: Regional Children’s Collective/Alliance.

Future Governance model and maintenance of Strategic Level action/outcomes based Children’s Alliance.

October 2015 onwards – no end date.

Unquantifiable presently, still in pilot/launch phase.

Outcome: Increased information dissemination to all regional networks, services, agencies & clients with collaborative cross sector regional issue resolution. Improved access to joint funding opportunities. Build foundations for Early Years as a regional priority focus and investment area. Development of Peel Children's Alliance branding logo. Benefit: Opportunity to develop strategic steering priority group’s state wide. Incorporation of family partnerships & Platforms Model and Collective Impact Approaches – development of regional knowledge base and shared language. Links and works side by side with recommendations made at State Wide Planning meeting Sept 2015 for clustered support models for CMS ECEC and broader services.

9e: Advance Nature Play – Passport Missions

City of Mandurah revising their EY strategy ‘better start better future” and are developing a specific Nature Play Action Plan

Jan- June 2016 Funding required

Alignments with and too support regional strategic EY plans and initiatives. Support sector educators with QA 1 program planning and integrating developmentally appropriate ICT learning with a localised context, which can be extended into children's home environments.

2.2 Risks

Risk summary Action / mitigation Outcome / risk status

8e: Hard copy directories become outdated very quickly, regularly need updating and are costly to print. Not all community members have access to a smart phone, APP stores, the internet or relevant children’s services and development information.

Invest in touch screen kiosks in regional, rural and remote areas. See the Lismore Case Study below in lessons learnt

Outcome:

RISK: No funding.

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Risk summary Action / mitigation Outcome / risk status

9a: Regional Children’s Collective/Alliance. Future Governance model and maintenance of Strategic Level action/outcomes based Children’s Alliance loses momentum or lacks a backbone organisation for future carriage.

RISK: No funding for future carriage.

9e: Nature Play – Passport Missions Limited buy in and engagement from NEYAG and the City Of Mandurah and other LGA’s to develop Peel relevant missions.

RISK: No funding

3 LESSONS LEARNED – REFLECTIONS

3.1 Report summary

The Regional Plan development and delivery investment has built momentum for a coordinated, strategic approach to children’s services in recognition of

the critical early years. This needs to be continued.

In a funding environment where more is expected for less, investment needs to be directed to coordination to enable collective impact across agencies with

less duplication, and involving key stakeholders such as parents and community members in working together with agencies for solutions.

The time for engagement, consultation, service mapping and plan development, including developing strategies and actions, from February to October

2014 was limited given the timeframe for engagement in this context was extremely limiting. This plan is considered to be a promising starting point to

move forward together as a region in children and family services, with much more engagement and consultation capacity and timeframes to be embedded

in any future actions.

The regional plan identified a range of related studies, papers, reports and frameworks from the local, regional, state, to national level that intersects or has

alignments with the Regional Children’s Plan (see Appendix 2 in the plan). A future regional coordinator position would work on actions that brought these

together.

The bringing together of three Regional Strategic Plans, has provided a solid foundations for the Children’s Services and the early years becoming a priority

focus area for the Peel region, with the formation of a Peel Children’s Collective inclusive of the chairs from the 5 existing networks in the Peel region.

There is still much work to be done to support these Networks to be truly regional. Future investment will look at how the Collective can best reach out

utilising technology, sub-groups, a locally relevant model for working together and a mix of communication methods.

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The regional plan also highlighted the evidence base including society’s cumulative financial benefits of children from disadvantaged or vulnerable

backgrounds being able to access quality education and care services.

The need for one consolidated children and family services ‘directory’ and access database (that might take the form of a mix of mediums such as touch

screens in remote communities, website, app, and combining service directories with quality parenting information for families across the region to

identify what children and family services might be available to them is significant. This might more effectively take the form of a state-wide project. The

Regional Plan began to explore how existing projects such as the Raising Children Network My Neighbourhood section, and InfoXchange might be leveraged

through additional project funding to meet the service and parenting information needs of this region by building on existing technology infrastructure.

Starting with a database may lead to different products, such as apps being developed to meet targeted needs.

3.2 Lessons learned summary

Situation Description Outcome Impact Lesson Learned / recommendations

Situation of Regional Development Officer Position

A supported ECEC and broader children’s service sector which included developing collaborative cross sector and agency practices.

HIGH Ongoing Regional Development Officer positions in the regions. Even the most sustainable and energy efficient options, models or approaches e.g. solar power, wind power, permaculture practices, community and service engagement require a technician or mechanic to regularly maintain to keep it ongoing.



http://www.serviceseeker.infoxchange.net.au/

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Situation Description Outcome Impact Lesson Learned / recommendations

Children’s Services Directories, websites and APPs.

Raising Children’s Network Platform. And/or Touch Screen Kiosks

MEDIUM - HIGH Invest in the Federally funded raising Children’s Network Site. Lismore Case Study below in lessons learnt http://www.unisa.edu.au/PageFiles/71981/Stories_of_Impact_BCBB.pdf and Here is the touch screen kiosk:

$2.6K each ex-gst with wireless capacity

Stand alone, use Telstra dongell, can use land cable or wireless

Strategically placed: e.g. Centrelink, Indigenous health clinic This is the touchscreen content (also duplicated on a website) without the menus at the top and you can’t go to other sites http://www.lismorechildandfamily.info/ Someone is paid to keep this up to date once a week. People don’t need to own a phone or have an internet connection or know how to use the internet.

http://www.unisa.edu.au/PageFiles/71981/Stories_of_Impact_BCBB.pdf

http://www.lismorechildandfamily.info/

Peel Regional Children's Services Plan - Implementation Report

Documents

Transcript of Peel Regional Children's Services Plan - Implementation Report