CONTENTS. Recommendation One Provision of Professional Development and Mentoring Opportunities

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2 CONTENTS Recommendation One Provision of Professional Development Mentoring Opportunities 01 Recommendation two Develop an Integrated Early Years Network 02 Recommendation THREE Develop a Pool of Qualified Educators to Provide Respite Education Care 12 Recommendation FOUR Increased Children s Services Including Education Care Delivery in Aboriginal Communities 13 Recommendation FIVE Improve Literacy Numeracy Rates across the Pilbara 16

3 Pilbara Regional Children's Services Implementation Plan Recommendation One Provision of Professional Development Mentoring Opportunities Action 1.1 Local Government Areas (LGAs) Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Deliver professional development to the children s services sector through the use of webinars e-training. Facilitate cooperation through the integrated Pilbara Early Years Network to bring down costs share coordination responsibilities for face-to-face professional development opportunities training delivery. EST Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl, Tom Price Early Years Group, Karratha Early Years Group, Roebourne Early Years Group, Onslow Early Years Group, Newman Early Years Group, Port Hedl Early Years Group, Pilbara Institute, Western Australian Council of Social Service Inc (WACOSS) Regional Development Australia Pilbara (RDA Pilbara). 1. Regional Development Officer (RDO) to draft a consultation engagement plan to target educators directors in education care sector in order to analyse gaps in the professional development training delivery in the Pilbara. 2. RDO to work with WACOSS to develop a database of relevant professional training opportunities, including webinars e-training. 3. RDO to work with the existing pending Early Years Groups ( their coordinators where they exist i.e. Tom Price) across the LGAs to deliver the professional development training through the Early Years Group meetings. - Improved service delivery in education care services through the delivery of professional development activities for educators. - Educators are up-skilled up-to-date with relevant policies procedures. - Increased education care educator retention. - Upskilling of children s service providers external to education care. RDA Pilbara has in-principle support from WACOSS for a collaborative partnership to establish a professional development database. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use $25,000 to fund RDO time support WACOSS in establishing the professional development database. July, 2015 Page 01

4 Recommendation TWO Develop an Integrated Early Years Network Action 2.1 Local Government Areas (LGAs) Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Support the existing Early Years Groups in Port Hedl Newman to link children s services other relevant stakeholders (i.e. parents). It is now widely recognised that Early Years Groups play a critical role in supporting enhancing early years development at a community level. Early Years Groups already exist in Karratha, Roebourne Port Hedl, Newman Tom Price. An Early Years Group will be established in Onslow in The aim of the Early Years Groups are to: 1. Provide a network that facilitates promotes the coming together of families, agencies, other community members to promote the nurturing support of all children their families. 2. Provide a collaborative network that is a conduit to share information with families, agencies other community members. 3. Identify build on our combined strengths potential to take effective action together towards the positive development empowerment of children their families. EST Shire of East Pilbara, Town of Port Hedl all stakeholders in those LGAs involved in children s services. 1. Liaise with the existing Port Hedl Newman Early Years Groups to build their attendance resources to prepare them for integration into the Pilbara Early Years Network. 2. Investigate third party funding to support the existing Newman Early Years Group fund an Early Years Group Coordinator position based on the model followed in the West Pilbara where the position is managed by a local non-profit or local government officers. - Solid relationship support for the Port Hedl Newman Early Years Groups. - Solid attendance at Early Years Group meetings in Port Hedl Newman. - Increased information sharing cooperation between providers of children s services across the Pilbara. - Increased number of professional development opportunities available to providers of children s services due to cost coordination sharing through the Early Years Network members. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to build relationships with the Port Hedl Newman Early Years Groups investigate alternative income generation avenues to fund a Newman Early Years Group Coordinator. From February, 2015 Page 02

5 Action 2.2 Local Government Areas (LGAs) Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Establish an integrated Pilbara Early Years Network to link children s services other relevant stakeholders (i.e. parents) across the entire Pilbara. EST Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara, Town of Port Hedl, Karratha Early Years Group, Roebourne Early Years Group, Tom Price Early Years Group, Port Hedl Early Years Group, Newman Early Years Group Onslow Early Years Group. 1. RDO to develop a Terms of Reference document for the integrated Pilbara Early Years Network. 2. RDO to work with the Early Years Group Coordinators across the Pilbara in order to prepare them for integration into the Pilbara Early Years Network. 3. RDA Pilbara to host the inaugural Early Years Group Network meetings discuss leveraging group resources networks in order to deliver professional development activities. The Pilbara Early Years Network meetings its logistics will be organised facilitated by the RDO. - Establishment of a Pilbara-wide integrated Early Years Network. - Attendance at Early Years Group meetings. - Increased information sharing cooperation between education care services across the Pilbara. - Increased number of professional development opportunities available to providers of children s services due to cost coordination sharing through the Early Years Network members. 4. Investigate potential avenues of income generation to foster sustainability for the group. For instance, membership, sponsorship or other third party funding. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to establish the Pilbara Early Years Network. From May, 2015 Page 03

6 Action 2.3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Development of a bi-monthly electronic Pilbara Early Years newsletter to be distributed to LGAs relevant stakeholders. The newsletter will promote training opportunities community events relating to the children s services sector. The newsletter will also provide links to other community/school newsletters LGA websites. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl, integrated Pilbara Early Years Network, WACOSS, RDA Pilbara, Parenting WA, all schools, education care sector. 1. Creation of Pilbara Early Years newsletter templates. - Production of three Pilbara Early Years newsletters. 2. Creation of distribution list. 3. Liaise with LGAs relevant stakeholders/community organisations to supply information. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget, RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to establish the templates distribution list for the newsletter get buy-in from relevant stakeholders/community organisations. RDA Pilbara s staff time, funded by RDA Pilbara, will be used to develop distribute the newsletter in the short-term. Distribution of first Pilbara Early Years newsletter in May Page 04

7 Action 2.4 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Investigate the sustainability of the Pilbara Early Years newsletter by determining possible partner organisations to share responsibility for production once the Pilbara Regional Children s Services Plan implementation process has been finalised. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl, integrated Pilbara Early Years Network, RDA Pilbara, Resource Industries, Parenting WA, all schools, education care sector. 1. Identification of organisations that may be willing to contribute to the ongoing production of the newsletter. - Continued production of the Pilbara Early Years newsletter. 2. Contact identified organisations to discuss how they could contribute. 3. Investigate other /or additional potential avenues of income generation to foster sustainability of the newsletter: For instance, advertising of appropriate organisations in the newsletter or sponsorships. From the existing Regional Children Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to contact potential partners, advertisers /or sponsors for the newsletter. September 2015 Page 05

8 Action 2.5 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Register the Pilbara Early Years Network with WACOSS to access professional development support. Ensure the other Early Years Groups in the Pilbara have registered with WACOSS. RDA Pilbara, Pilbara Early Years Network, WACOSS. 1. Contact WACOSS register Pilbara Early Years Network. - Pilbara Early Years Network will be registered with WACOSS. 2. Ensure all Early Years Groups (i.e. Newman, Port Hedl etc.) are registered with WACOSS. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time. July 2015 V Swans - JET Kids programmes Page 06

9 Action 2.6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Development of Pilbara Early Years webpage to be incorporated into the existing RDA Pilbara website. This page will have links to organisations within the Pilbara that provide services for children families. The page will also identify Federal, State, Local Government funding opportunities. RDA Pilbara, service providers in the Pilbara government departments. 1. Creation of webpage on existing website. 2. Creation of data base for existing funding avenues. - Updated website that will provide information to all stakeholders the community. 3. Promote webpage through the Early Years Groups other communication materials, such as the Pilbara Early Years newsletter. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget, RDA Pilbara will use RDA Pilbara s website administrator RDO time to update the webpage. Once the Pilbara Regional Children s Services Plan implementation process has been finalised RDA funding will be used to maintain the webpage. June 2015 Page 07

10 Action 2.7 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of To bring attention to the children s services sector via the integrated Pilbara Early Years network regarding the Productivity Commission Report Recommendations Early Childhood Education Care (ECEC) initiatives. Also to raise awareness of any Commonwealth policy changes, such as in relation to nannies au pairs. RDA Pilbara, Pilbara Early Years Network, education care sector. 1. Details of policy changes will be uploaded onto the RDA Pilbara website, Early Years webpage. Information will also be distributed via the Pilbara Early Years newsletter. - Children s services sector is kept up to date informed of policy change as it occurs. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time. April 2015 ongoing. Page 08

11 Action 2.8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Investigate potential crèche facilities at meeting venues to enable access to a crèche for Early Years Group members to access while attending Early Years Group meetings in order to boost attendance at meetings particularly by stakeholders such as non-working parents. MEDIUM Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara, Town of Port Hedl, Karratha Early Years Group, Roebourne Early Years Group, Port Hedl Early Years Group, Newman Early Years Group, Tom Price Early Years Group, Onslow Early Years Group, RDA Pilbara children s services offering crèche facilities. 1. Organise a database of appropriate venues with capacity for a crèche in each Early Years Group location. - Improved attendance at Early Years Group meetings, particularly by stakeholders such as non-working parents. 2. Communicate to Early Years Group members the availability of crèche facilities they can access during attendance at Early Years Group meetings. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to collate communicate information. From 1st September, 2015 Page 09

12 Action 2.9 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Brief local government officers to raise awareness of the importance of children s services sector in the region benefits of supporting better outcomes for children families. Briefing to assist Shires/Cities/Towns considering Early Childhood planning needs analysis for 0-4 year 4-12 year age cohorts to enhance local knowledge on developmental needs. MEDIUM Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara, Town of Port Hedl, Karratha Early Years Group, Roebourne Early Years Group, Port Hedl Early Years Group, Newman Early Years Group, Tom Price Early Years Group, Onslow Early Years Group RDA Pilbara. 1. Collate prepare a suitable document for a local government briefing. - Presentation to relevant local government officers in each of the LGAs. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to collate information host presentation. From September, 2015 Page 10

13 Action 2.10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Creation of logo bring for the Pilbara Early Years Network register with the Department of Local Government Communities. MEDIUM RDA Pilbara, Pilbara Early Years Network, Department of Local Government Communities, City of Karratha, Town of Port Hedl, Shire of East Pilbara, Shire of Ashburton. 1. Discussion with Pilbara Early Years Network members for input into development of logo. - Application of bring to all documents communication pertaining to the Pilbara Early Years Network; thereby, increasing the visibility of the network. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time Pilbara Early Years Network members to facilitate in design process. August September 2015 Page 11

14 Recommendation Three Develop a Pool of Qualified Educators to Provide Respite Education Care Action 3.1 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Investigate partnering with education care services to establish a pool of qualified educators to provide relief respite education care. The pool can be accessed by education care services seeking relief educators parents seeking respite care. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl, RDA Pilbara, WACOSS, Pilbara Development Commission, Pilbara Institute education care services including Children s Services Support Unit (CSSU) Inc. 1. RDO to liaise with education care directors to analyse their interest in setting up participating (through user-pay contract agreements) in the respite pool of education care educators. 2. RDO to investigate feasibility of Pilbara-wide education care respite educator pool versus micro-pools in each LGA. 3. RDO to investigate a suitable model of establishing maintaining an education care respite educator pool. Sustainability of the educator pool must be a major consideration with a user-pay system investigated. That is, a fee-for-use service for the education care providers based on their use of the respite educator pool. - A pool of respite education care educators is established. - Increased participation in professional development opportunities as education care educators are able to have time-off from their organisations in order to attend training. - Increased education care educator retention. - Decreased understaffing pressures. 4. RDO to investigate interest from a local, non-profit education care service provider in managing the day-to-day operations of the respite education care educator pool. 5. Once a suitable partner model has been identified, RDO to investigate set-up operational costs of the education care respite educator pool. 6. RDO to investigate the risk feasibility of offering the education care respite pool educators to parents in the home environment. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to undertake the above actions as part of the project plan for establishing an education care respite educator pool. From 1st August, 2015 Page 12

15 Recommendation FOUR Increased Children s Services Including Education Care Delivery in Aboriginal Communities Action 4.1 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Undertake a feasibility study to evaluate the viability of establishing mobile children s services resource hubs to provide services in remote Aboriginal communities. Consultation engagement with Aboriginal Corporations, Aboriginal families children s services is an essential component of this strategy. As there are commonalities regarding the communities with an identified need for the resource hub for school readiness programmes (Recommendation Five, Action 5.1) some elements of the research for both strategies will be undertaken concurrently. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services, regional Aboriginal Corporations RDA Pilbara. 1. RDO to create a database of all regional Aboriginal Corporations children s services working specifically with Aboriginal pre-school children. 2. Develop a consultation engagement plan to identify communities with the highest need for the mobile children s service resource hub 3. RDO to compile a report regarding the feasibility study outlining: a. The issue being addressed. b. Background including existing programmes potential models. c. Analysis of the potential models including; - Establishment of costs ongoing operational costs other resources required. - Ability of the model to meet the required need or address the identified issue. - The extent to which the model meets the needs. - Regional Aboriginal Corporations, Aboriginal families children s services working with Aboriginal children consulted. - Development of a consultation engagement plan that highlights communities with the greatest need for mobile children s services resource hubs feasibility of delivery models. - The provision of a report regarding the feasibility of delivering children s services to remote Aboriginal communities through a mobile children s services resource hub. 4. Evaluation of costs versus benefits to identify the more appropriate model. 5. Conclusion outlining the preferred model the feasibility of this model. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to develop a consultation plan on the provision of mobile children s services resource hubs. July 2015 Page 13

16 Action 4.2 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Contingent on the outcome findings of the feasibility study investigate third party funding, if required, to establish the preferred mobile children s services resource hub model to provide services in remote Aboriginal communities. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services, regional Aboriginal Corporations, Department of Social Services, RDA Pilbara, Lotterywest, Pilbara Development Commission. 1. RDA Pilbara to investigate multiple third party funding to establish mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. - Funding for establishing mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara is sourced from multiple partners in order to leverage funding, improve collaboration increase programme sustainability. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to find suitable funding partners for the delivery of mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. August 2015 Page 14

17 Action 4.3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Subject to funding, RDA Pilbara to identify contract children s services providers to establish mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services, regional Aboriginal Corporations, Department of Social Services, RDA Pilbara, Lotterywest, Pilbara Development Commission, Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Billiton. 1. RDA Pilbara to develop a tender process to distribute funding proposal templates to identified children s service providers. 2. Evaluation of submitted tender documents. Establish contracts with successful applicants to provide mobile children s services resource hubs to remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. - Children s services providers identified contracted to establish mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to identify contract children s services providers to establish mobile children s services resource hubs to service remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara. September 2015 Page 15

18 Recommendation Five Improve Literacy Numeracy Rates across the Pilbara Action 5.1 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Develop a relationship with the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) Survey Team in order to keep up to date about their plan to survey small LGAs in the Pilbara Aboriginal communities. MEDIUM Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara, Town of Port Hedl, RDA Pilbara. 1. Contact the relevant officer at AEDC. - More locally available information on development statistics for stakeholders in the Pilbara. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time. From 1st September, 2015 in preparation for next Census round. Page 16

19 Action 5.2 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Undertake a feasibility study to identify evaluate school readiness programmes with appropriate locally relevant content delivery capacity to remote Aboriginal communities. Consultation engagement with Aboriginal Corporations, Aboriginal families children s services is an essential component of this strategy. As there are commonalities regarding the communities with an identified need for the resource hub (Recommendation Four, Action 4.1) for school readiness programs, some elements of the research for both strategies will be undertaken concurrently. These programmes would be aimed specifically at Aboriginal 3-4 year olds in remote Aboriginal communities town centres with a high number of Aboriginal children. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services involved in school readiness programmes; regional Aboriginal Corporations, local schools RDA Pilbara. 1. RDO to create a database of all regional Aboriginal Corporations children s services working specifically with Aboriginal pre-school children. 2. RDO to develop a feasibility study to analyse the availability of appropriate content for school readiness programmes for Aboriginal 3-4 year olds. This plan will also look at the feasibility of delivery models in communities town centres. 3. RDO to compile a report regarding the feasibility study outlining: a. The issue being addressed. b. Background including existing programmed potential models. c. Analysis of the potential models including; - Establishment costs ongoing operational costs other resources required. - Ability of the model to meet the required need or address the identified issue. - Ability of the model to meet the required need or address the identified issue. - The extent to which the model meets the needs. 4. Evaluation of costs versus benefits to identify the more appropriate model. - Regional Aboriginal Corporations, Aboriginal families children s services working with Aboriginal children consulted. - Development of a consultation engagement plan that highlights appropriate partners content for school readiness programmes aimed at Aboriginal 3-4 year olds. - The provision of a report regarding the feasibility of increasing delivery of school readiness programs to Aboriginal children in remote Aboriginal communities towns with a high number of Aboriginal children. 5. Conclusion outlining the preferred model the feasibility of this model. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget, RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to develop a feasibility study on the availability of programmes local content of school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children possible delivery models. July 2015 Page 17

20 Action 5.3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Contingent on the outcome findings of the feasibility study investigate third party funding, if required, to increase school readiness programmes delivered to Aboriginal 3-4 year olds in remote Aboriginal communities town centres with a high number of Aboriginal children. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services offering school readiness programmes, regional Aboriginal Corporations, Department of Social Services, RDA Pilbara, Pilbara Development Commission. 1. For sustainability the RDO to look at possible funding partners, including corporate funding, for delivery of school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. - Funding for delivery of school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres is sourced from multiple partners in order to leverage funding, improve collaboration increase programme sustainability. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to find suitable funding partners for the delivery of school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. August 2015 Page 18

21 Action 5.4 Local Government Areas (LGAs) - Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Subject to successful funding, RDA Pilbara will identify contract children s services providers to deliver school readiness programmes aimed specifically at Aboriginal 3-4 year olds in remote Aboriginal communities town centres with a high number of Aboriginal children. Shire of Ashburton, City of Karratha, Shire of East Pilbara Town of Port Hedl. Children s services offering school readiness programmes, regional Aboriginal Corporations, Department of Social Services, Senior Programme Officer (SPO) for RDA s West Pilbara Communities for Children (WPC4C), RDA Pilbara Pilbara Development Commission. 1. RDA Pilbara to provide funding proposals to possible children s services providers for the delivery of school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. - Children s services providers identified contracted to deliver school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. 2. RDA Pilbara to assess funding proposals instigate contracts with children s services providers to deliver school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. From the existing Regional Children s Services Plan budget RDA Pilbara will use RDO time to identify contract children s services providers to deliver school readiness programmes for Aboriginal children in remote communities in town centres. September 2015 Page 19

22 For further information please contact: Debbie Allcott Regional Development Officer Regional Development Australia Pilbara Diane Pentz Chief Executive Officer Regional Development Australia Pilbara Welcome Lotteries House 5/7 Morse Court Karratha OR PO BOX 1404 Karratha WA 6714 Phone Number: (08) Any statement or finding expressed or implied in this document is provided in good faith based on the information available at the time it was created. No warranty, expressed or implied is given for accuracy of the information provided by others. The authors accept no liability for any loss or damages arising from or relating to the use of the report by any other party.