Newsletter

POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS
From Idea to Evaluation

INFORMATION SOURCES

Websites for specific legislative references

WebLaw
www.weblaw.edu.au
Weblaw is a cooperative subject gateway to Internet resources for Australian legal researchers, students and professionals.

Early Childhood Australia
www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au
Early Childhood Australia is a non-profit peak advocacy organisation, acting in the interests of young children, their families and those in the early childhood field. As part of its work to identify and promote best practice in early childhood, Early Childhood Australia develops position statements on a range of early childhood issues.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
www.facs.gov.au

National Library of Australia
www.nla.gov.au/oz/law.html
Site provides a subject index for laws of each state and territory jurisdiction.

National Childcare Accreditation Council
www.ncac.gov.au
The National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC)endeavours to assist child care professionals to deliver quality child care by providing services with advice, support and resources. Policy templates and a Policy Development Guide are available on the NCAC website.

Information—General organisations
Within each state and territory, there exists a range of organisations who can help in the development of policy for early childhood settings. The following list provides a starting point for individual services in their search for information.

New South Wales
Lady Gowrie Child Centre, Sydney (LGCC Sydney)
www.gowrie-sydney.com.au
(02) 8345 7600
admin@gowrie-sydney.com.au
Non-profit organisation providing childcare, resource, training and advisory services and a range of information, referral and corporate services relevant to the early childhood field.

Ethnic Child Care, Family and Community Services Co-operative Ltd NSW
eccfcsc.org
(02) 9569 1288
coop@eccfcsc.org
Provides information, resources, referral, advocacy, consultation, training support and assistance in the areas of children, disability and aged services in order to ensure that Australians from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds receive culturally and linguistically relevant services.

Community Child Care Co-operative Ltd (NSW)
www.ccccnsw.org.au
Building 21
142 Addison Road
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: (02) 8922 6444
Fax: (02) 8922 6445
info@ccccnsw.org.au
NSW Children's Services Advice, Resource and Support Agency catering to Long Day Care and Pre-school Services in NSW. Offers Management Training, Consultancy, Telephone Support, Advice and Referral. Also provides relevant publications and information.

Network of Community Activities (Network)
www.netoosh.org.au
(02) 9212 3244
network@netoosh.org.au
Network is a community-based organisation that supports the development of community-based programs and environments that support school age children in their time outside school hours; acts as a link for community-based groups.

Children’s Services Central
www.cscentral.org.au
Ph (toll-free): 1800 157 818
info@cscentral.org.au
Children’s Services Central (as the Professional Support Coordinator for NSW) is funded by the Australian government to coordinate professional support for all Government Approved child care services in NSW. That includes supporting:
• long day care centres
• family day care schemes and carers
• in home care schemes
• occasional care
• mobiles
• before and after care services
• vacation care services
• MACS
• other Australian Government funded non-mainstream care services.
Children’s Services Central is managed by the Alliance of Children’s Services, which is a consortium of the seven key organisations that resource and represent the various sectors of Children’s services in NSW:
• Community Child Care Co-operative (lead agency)
• NSW Family Day Care Association
• Network of Community Activities
• Contact Incorporated
• Ethnic Child Care Family and Community Services Co-operative Ltd
• Child Care NSW
• Semann and Slattery Consultants

Queensland
Noah’s Ark Children’s Services Resource Unit
www.noahsark.net.au
(07) 3255 2082
resources@noahsark.net.au; equipment@noahsark.net.au
Noah’s Ark Children’s Services Resource Unit is contracted by the PSCQ (Professional Support Co-ordinating Unit Qld) to manage the General Resource Library and Advisory Service and the Specialist Equipment Program.
To access the General Resource Library and Advisory Service membership with the PSCQ is necessary. Internet access to an online borrowing service is available as well as the provision of linkages to specialised PSSPs websites, Inclusion Support Agencies and other identified services that support child care services to provide quality inclusive practice.
Resources include:
• general resources for professional development
• in-service training materials
• journals
• fact/tip sheets (regarding key child care issues)
• children’s literature – non fiction, fiction, bi-lingual
• language kits
• videos and DVDs
• CDs
• posters
• links to websites
• multicultural kits
• survival words kits ( approx 50 different languages)
The library can be accessed by contacting the PSCQ through the free 1800 112 585 number.
The Noah’s Ark Specialist Equipment Program provides equipment for loan to child care services, building on their capacity to include children with high physical support needs. Access to the equipment is through the Inclusion Support Subsidy Scheme with the assistance of the Inclusion Support Agency.

The Gowrie (QLD) Inc
www.gowrie-brisbane.com.au
(07) 3252 2667
office@ladygowrie.com.au
Training and resource agency for Early Childhood Services in Queensland. Supports children’s services throughout Queensland regarding programming, staff interactions, and parent involvement, etc.

Queensland Council of Social Service Inc (QCOSS)
www.qcoss.org.au
(07) 3004 6900
qcoss@qcoss.org.au
Promotes the role of non-government organisations in the efficient and effective provision of appropriate community services and, in particular, seeks a recognised role for the community welfare sector in state policy-making. Advocacy on social justice.

South Australia
Network SA Resource, Advisory and Management Services Inc (Network SA)
www.networksa.org.au
(08) 8445 8128; toll free 1800 673 714 (SA Country)
info@networksa.org.au
Resource, advisory and training agency providing information, resources and training to owners, management committees, boards, managers, directors, coordinators and administrators of children’s services.

Aboriginal Resource & Management Support Unit (ARMSU)
www.networksa.org.au
(08) 8445 8128; toll free 1800 673 714 (SA Country)
info@networksa.org.au
ARMSU provides management and quality care support for Aboriginal children’s services.

Careproviders of SA Inc.
www.seeknfind.com.au/cosa/
(08) 8252 0021
trevcill@aapt.net.au
Promotes the role of non-government organisations in the efficient and effective provision of appropriate community services and, in particular, seeks a recognised role for the community welfare sector in national policy-making. Supports FDC providers in SA.

Gowrie Training Centre
www.gowrie-adelaide.com.au
(08) 1800 129 606
train@gowrie-adelaide.com.au
The Gowrie Training Centre provides professional training and support services to child care and education staff in South Australia. This includes training workshops, support and advisory services. The Gowrie Training Centre provides professional development and accredited training for entry level to advanced children's services staff. Located on site is a specialised Resource Centre available to staff, students and other early childhood professionals.

Inclusive Directions Inc. (Disability, CALD, Indigenous)
directions.org.au
(08) 8165 2900
info@directions.org.au
Inclusive Directions Inc. provides support, training and advice to facilitate the inclusion of children with additional needs in Commonwealth funded child care services (LCD, OSCH, VC, FDC and In Home Care).

Tasmania
Lady Gowrie Child Centre (Inc.) Hobart
www.gowrie-tas.com.au
(03) 6230 6800
Lady Gowrie Tasmania is a member of a National Consortium, Gowrie Australia, which provides quality leadership across Australia for children's services professionals and promotes high quality early childhood programs.

Victoria
Community Child Care Association—Victoria
www.cccvic.org.au
03 9486 3455; toll free 1800 177 017
recept@cccinc.org.au
Community Child Care Association is an independent, non-profit training, resource, advisory and advocacy body for Children's Services in Victoria.

Lady Gowrie Child Centre (Melbourne) Inc.
www.gowrie-melbourne.com.au/
(03) 9347 6388
reception@gowrie-melbourne.com.au
The Lady Gowrie Child Centre (Melbourne) Inc., is a not-for-profit organisation, a leading provider of children’s programs, accredited and professional development training, resources and advice, bookshop, library, (both also online) and programs tailored to the specialist needs of the early childhood sector.

Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.
www.vaeai.org.au
(03) 9481 0800
vaeai@vaeai.org.au
VAEAI, a state-wide Koorie organisation, established in 1976, is recognised by the Victorian state government as the peak body providing policy advice on education issues at the local, state and national levels; and promoting access and equity for Koories through the development of education programs that are culturally relevant, reinforcing Koorie identity and providing supportive learning environments.

Victorian Co-operative on Children's Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG)
vicseg.com.au
Phone: (03) 9383 2533
VICSEG provides information & assistance regarding a range of family and children’s services available in the community to recently settled migrant and refugee families statewide. Provides cultural consultancy and training to SUPS workers and service providers.

Western Australia
Children’s Services Support Unit WA (Inc)
cssu.org.au
(08) 9315 2222
information@cssu.org.au
An information group represented in each state providing advice, resources and training to Commonwealth Children’s Services in a broad range of management and financial management areas and issues related to OSHC.

Resource Unit for Children with Special Needs (RUCSN)
rucsn.org.au
(08) 9249 4333
inclusion@rucsn.org.au
Aims to promote and enhance the inclusion of children with additional needs in appropriate children’s services and associated community activities.

Information—Area-specific organisations
Early Childhood Australia
www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

Early Childhood Australia develops policies on a range of early childhood issues. The following policies are available:
Behaviour Guidance and Management
Breastfeeding
Care of Infants
Child Care—Work Related/Work Based
Child Protection
Children and the Mass Media
Children of Asylum Seekers
Children’s Services Traineeships
Control of Infection in Early Childhood Settings
Cultural Diversity
Gender Equity
Guidelines for Consulting with Young Children
Immunisation
Inclusion of Children with Additional Needs
Information Technology and Young Children
Integrated Services
Language and Literacy
Mobile Services
Physical environments for centre-based early childhood services
Planning the Location of Centre-Based Early Childhood Services
(Source: Early Childhood Australia Website <www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au>.)

Topic-specific research
Aboriginal Early Childhood Services Support Unit (AECSSU)
www.aecssu.org.au

Australian Council for Educational Research
www.acer.edu.au

Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS)
www.acoss.org.au

Australian Institute of Family Studies
www.aifs.org.au

Australian Institute of Management
www.aim.com.au

Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre
www.aiatsis.gov.au/home

Contemporary Issues In Early Childhood
www.wwwords.co.uk/ciec

NSW Commission for Children and Young People
www.kids.nsw.gov.au

Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood
www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/CEIEC/

Children Now
www.childrennow.org/

Children Defense America
childrensdefense.org

Child Care NSW
www.childcarensw.com.au
Child Care NSW is the peak body for private child care providers in NSW.

Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
www.glrl.org.au

Immunise Australia Program
www.immunise.health.gov.au

Learn to Include
www.hotkey.net.au/~learn_to_include/

National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN)
www.napcan.org.au

National Family Day Care Council of Australia (NFDCCA)
www.familydaycare.com.au

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
www.nhmrc.gov.au

Australian Safety and Compensation Council
www.worksafe.gov.au

See more about Policy Development in Early Childhood Settings