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Children with additional needs

Learn about local programs and services available for children with additional needs.

Inclusion Support Program

The Inclusion Support Program supports Australian Government Child Care Benefit-approved services so they can welcome and include all children.

These services include:

  • 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

Inclusion professionals help to build the capacity of children’s services to successfully include all children, including those with additional needs.

Children with additional needs include those from the following priority groups:

  • 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 has been selected as the Victorian preferred provider for the state-wide delivery of a new Federal Government Inclusion Support Program that begins on 1 July 2016.

Further information

Call 9486 3455 or visit the Community Child Care website.

Preschool Field Officers

Preschool Field Officers (PSFO) provide practical advice and support to the staff of government-funded kindergartens, to ensure that children with development concerns or additional needs can access and participate in a quality kindergarten program.

You can obtain a referral form for the PSFO 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 Kindergarten Inclusion Support Packages.

Further information

Phone Lentara Uniting Care on 9351 3600 or visit the Lentara Care website.

Early Intervention Programs

Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS) support children with a disability or developmental delay from birth to school entry and their families.

ECIS provide special 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 ECIS, with guardian's consent.

Parents can also self-refer by calling 1800 783 783.