From birth to school, there are a range of local programs and services available for children with additional needs.
Explore this section to find out more about the services and how they can assist your child and family.
The inclusion support program applies to these services:
- family day care
- long day care
- occasional care
- outside school hours care
- school holiday care
- in-home care
- non-mainstream services, including multifunctional Aboriginal Children's Services and mobile services.
The program supports Australian Government approved child care services so they can welcome and include all children.
Inclusion workers help children’s services to include all children, including those with additional needs.
Children with additional needs include:
- children with disability, including those undergoing assessment for disability
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- children from a refugee or humanitarian background
- children with serious medical condition(s)
- children with language and speech delays
- children with disruptive behaviour.
Community Child Care Association is the preferred Victorian provider for the statewide delivery of the inclusion support program. You can call the Community Child Care Association on 03 9486 3455.
Preschool field officers provide advice and support to the staff of government-funded kindergartens. Their work ensures children with development concerns or additional needs can access and participate in a quality kindergarten program.
You can obtain a referral form for the Preschool field officer service from your child's kindergarten.
A Preschool field officer:
- observes children with developmental concerns and consults with educators and families
- consults with and supports kindergarten staff on the planning, implementation and review of developmentally appropriate programs for all children
- links families and staff to community and specialist supports.
Find out more about support for kindergarten inclusion
Uniting Care provides the Preschool field officer and Kindergarten Inclusion Support for local kindergarten funded programs for the inclusion of children within additional needs into programs.
Early years professionals and families should review this program information when registering children with additional needs who may require support and funding to be included within the kinder funded program.
For more information about the local Preschool field officer service, contact Uniting Care on 03 9351 3600.
Early Childhood Intervention Services support children with disability or developmental delay, and their families, from birth to school entry.
Early Childhood Intervention Services provide:
- supported education
- therapy counselling
- service planning and coordination
- assistance and support to access services such as kindergarten and child care.
A range of professionals including paediatricians, general practitioners, maternal and child health nurses, child care professionals and kindergarten teachers can make a referral to Early Childhood Intervention Services, with a guardian's consent.
Parents can also self-refer by calling 1800 783 783.