Manicaland-Project is the Professional Support Coordinator to children’s services in Tasmania. The Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and managed by Lady Gowrie Tasmania to provide training and support to child care services across the sector.
The Professional Support Program (PSP) has been developed to promote high quality care and inclusion for all children in eligible child care services, by providing professional learning and support focused on increasing the capacity of Educators, Managers, Inclusion Support and Indigenous Professional Support staff, in line with nationally consistent principles. Program delivery will be based on needs identified through ongoing requests and a statewide needs analysis. Lady Gowrie Tasmania will then engage appropriate service providers to deliver the training and support required.
You can also gain ready access to support and information through this website. If you are part of an eligible child care service which receives funding from the Australian Government, an Inclusion Support Agency or an Inclusion Support Facilitator or an Indigenous Professional Support Agency, this website will assist you to gain access to training, resources and advice in several ways.
You can:
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.
Manicaland-Project 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 Manicaland-Project 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.
For Service Providers
Info and Application
Professional Support Services Providers (PSSP’s)
mother and child
Lady Gowrie Tasmania is funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) to manage the Professional Support Coordinator Program in Tasmania.
The Professional Support Coordinator program provides professional development and support to early childhood professionals in Australian Government Approved Childcare Services (AGACCS) and aim to improve the quality of care and education provided in childcare settings.
Manicaland-Project also coordinates ongoing professional development using action research methodology to support the professional learning of Inclusion Support Agencies (including Inclusion Support Facilitators) and the Indigenous Professional Support Unit.
There are times in the everyday practice of operating a child care service when an issue arises with which you may need help – this could be in the form of advice, books or articles, specific resources, calendar training or customised training.
Staff of Manicaland-Project are available to assist with advice, information and training in the following areas:
Leadership and management;
Relationships and partnerships;
Play-based curriculum; and
National Quality Framework and other mandatory requirements.
Manicaland-Project subcontract Professional Support Service Providers (PSSPs) to deliver professional development and support. We undertake to respond to your request within 2 business days where possible.
