Regional Children’s Services Plans Funding was allocated to develop nine RCSPs. Regional planning involved mapping and analysis of trends and issues at broad regional levels. Information provided in the RCSPs that included issues and trends identified as State-wide was used to inform the ECS Plan. Many of the have identified similar issues such as professional development, limited number of services, staffing issues and governance and viability challenges across the regions. As part of the RSCPs process each region provided an implementation plan report identifying those strategies implemented within their current funding; the outcomes achieved and any ongoing issues. This enabled each region to start implementing complementary strategies prior to completion of the ECS Plan. Some strategies are currently being implemented at a regional level through strategic and operational grant funding from Stage 1 to help with the existing issues. A summary of key findings and actions from each RCSP is provided at Appendix A. Workshop In September 2015 DLGC held a workshop with a number of RCCCDF contractors and regional development officers to develop strategies for the ECS Plan that can be implemented State-wide. Regional trends and issues, strategies, collaboration/responsibilities, measures of success, risks and priorities and rationales were identified. Reference group A RCCCDF reference group was established in 2012 and member guidelines were developed. The role of the reference group is to: provide guidance and input into key outcomes, strategic directions and benchmarks identify opportunities to build regional capacity and social infrastructure identify strategic links to other related initiatives contribute to the development of innovative practice and strategies to strengthen the viability of the regional community child care sector provide advocacy on policy and issues impacting on regional childhood education and care. The reference has representation from:
Appendix B - Key Strategies State-wide trends / issues Strategy Collaboration / responsibilities Measure of success Risks Priority and rationale Governance and viability challenges for community managed ECEC services. Improve sustainability of community managed ECEC services in regional communities by:- Conducting feasibility studies of proposed models Develop, pilot and roll-out model/s DLGC Development Commissions LGAs ECEC services Education services Health services New governance model/s for sustainable ECEC services in regional communities is rolled out Reluctance to embrace alternative ways of operating High priority This will result in greater financial stability of ECEC services into the future and provide an operating and governance structure that will achieve sustainable services. Limited number of ECEC services especially in and remote areas Geographical issues (and low numbers of Encourage and facilitate the establishment of new services and the retention of existing services, focussing on the rural and remote areas which currently have limited or no DLGC LGAs WA Department of Education Schools Indigenous groups New services operating in rural and remote areas Greater number of FDC services operating Higher uptake by parents, community Reluctance of schools to share premises for OSH services Reluctance of services to engage with the driver of this strategy High priority Increased numbers of ECEC services (and increased use of those services) would provide greater opportunities for parents to
children in each locality) Difficulty in producing a viable business model faced with regulatory burden, rental costs, shortage of qualified staff in locality Existing services closing because they are not viable businesses Parents experience difficulty locating services ECEC services and reachable towns which could service those areas by:- Promoting different ideas for business models which may be viable in rural and remote areas (e.g. in-venue care, links with CRC resources, FDC, OSH services in schools) Investigating alternative children’s services support and resource models for each region Improving communications between parents and services, and also between ECEC services using technology (e.g. smartphone app) Establishing links between existing networks, with GIS / RIS feeds between websites Compiling a programme of webinars / podcasts Universities / colleges Community Organisations Western Australia Local Government Association FDC Service Providers groups and Aboriginal children to review their business Issue of who remains responsible for updating app / Facebook page / website Lack of infrastructure and resources in remote to support growth Reluctance of communities to embrace alternative modes of education and care enter or remain in the workplace, thereby contributing to economic development. New services would also provide employment opportunities for staff within the service and economic benefits for local suppliers Development of a “learning community” between services will encourage knowledge sharing, good practice and collaboration and also increase accessibility of information. Greater collaboration between services may help to address some of the
/ video conferencing on governance, finance, management of ECEC services etc. Rolling out “good practice” workshops in regional culturally appropriate ECEC services business viability issues Promotes the idea of universal equity and access to ECEC services for every child in WA Numbers of students enrolled on ECEC courses has declined substantially in some areas which will exacerbate the staffing issues experienced by services in the future Transient workforce Excessive demands on staff leads to low morale and low community reputation of the service Increase the numbers of ECEC qualified staff in regional areas by:- Promoting the ECEC sector as an employer, recognising the professional nature of the job and raising awareness at all levels of the value of ECEC through development of:- Career Roadshows Industry tasters / work experience Mentoring schemes Centrelink advertising Universities / colleges Schools LGAs Western Australia Local Government Association Careers advisors Centrelink Increase in number of students on ECEC courses in regional areas Smartphone app(s) launched Roadshows / work experience / mentoring rolled out Increased number of Aboriginal students Limited opportunities for ECEC qualifications in some areas Lack of ECEC qualified staff in some areas Cost of ECEC qualification Updates to directory / app required High priority A larger pool of ECEC qualified people would reduce staff shortages for services and address many of the current issues such as lack of relief staff for professional development, compliance with the NQF standards, geographical issues, etc. Tackling the financial barriers to ECEC courses will address reasons for a
Federal Department of Education Playgroup WA WA Department of Education Insufficient participation in professional development (PD) events Barriers to access (geography, limited number of events, insufficient to cover the service) Lack of understanding within services of the value of PD Services experiencing difficulties complying with the National Quality Standards Increase the provision and uptake of professional development opportunities, particularly in rural and remote areas by:- Coordinating a strategic professional development programme, forging links to other sectors (health, education) and facilitating collaboration between services for PD events. Publishing a PD skills / training register template for services/ educators to use Developing and introducing a Early years networks Child and family centres LGAs Development Commissions Local communities Regional Development Agencies PD organisations Health agencies Schools WA Department of Education Reduction in waivers granted to services re: mandatory training Improved rates of staff retention, lower staff turnover and more highly skilled staff (Survey Monkey to services) Levels of school readiness Transient workforce often results in skill loss – less incentive for services to upskill their staff? Lack of buy-in from services, especially at a high level Lack of capacity in services to undertake training (insufficient relief to cover) Strategic professional development programme would require co-ordination – unclear who would drive this Medium priority Would improve the quality of services, increase knowledge and encourage networking and mentoring Would share good practice, improve the rating and assessment score for ECEC services and build the reputation of services in their communities
programme of webinars to overcome geographical, relief staff and cost issues Cost of PD may be a deterrent for services ECEC is often not recognised or undervalued in regional strategic planning, resulting in a lack of a coordinated approach to advancement of child, family and economic outcomes. Improve recognition and inclusion of ECEC in regional strategic planning exercises by:- Raising profile of ECEC sector with relevant stakeholders and partners to achieve the prominent inclusion of ECEC into regional strategic plans (blueprints, WAPC) Regional Development Commissions DLGC Department for Regional Development Western Australian Planning Commission Regional Development Australia LGAs Western Australia Local Government Association Inclusion of ECEC within regional strategic plans Lack of appetite to include ECEC in regional strategic plans Medium priority A coordinated and strategic approach to child and family issues would assist with inclusion of facilities into community plans and attract resources to the sector, where appropriate. Would support the economic and workforce development in regional areas.