Gowrie NSW chosen as a consortium partner for Inclusion Support program
Media Release
9 May 2016: Gowrie NSW, a leader in early childhood for 75 years, is pleased to announce our partnership with leading early childhood providers, KU Children’s Services (KU) and Include Me, in providing inclusion support services across Australia under the new Inclusion Support Programme (ISP).
“We are delighted to be recognised as a partner among a host of quality early childhood education services in delivering valued support to child care services under the new Inclusion Support Programme,” Natalie Grenfell, Chief Executive Officer of Gowrie NSW, said.
“Investing in early learning services benefits us all. We at Gowrie NSW believe that by providing quality early learning services to our youngest Australians we can help to build a more prosperous future and healthy society,” Ms Grenfell said.
Gowrie NSW will work closely under KU, who alongside Include Me, will be responsible for accessing applications from childcare services across Australia, and distributing funding as part of the Federal Government’s $543 million commitment to supporting the inclusion of children with additional need in early childhood and school ages services national, through the Child Care Safety Net component of the Jobs for Families package.
The ISP will commence on 1 July 2016, and will ensure continued support to child care services nationally, following the closure of the Inclusion Professional Support Program (IPSP) and its services on 30 June this year.
“Gowrie NSW believes this is a fantastic outcome for the sector. Following an anxious wait in regards to the funding changes to child care services across the country, early child care providers can now rest assured that funding will continue to help those children most in need of ISP services,” Ms Grenfell said.
About the Inclusion Support Programme
The Inclusion Support Programme is funded by the Australian Government to build the capacity and capability of child care services to include children with additional needs.
Children with additional needs include those with a disability or those being diagnosed with a
disability, those from diverse cultural and language backgrounds, refugee children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and vulnerable children.
Currently there are 28 different providers of Inclusion Support Agency services across Australia, the move to one provider per State/Territory under the new programme will streamline service provision and build on best practice.
For further information on the Inclusion Support Programme, visit: http://www.education.gov.au/inclusion-support-programme
About Gowrie NSW
A leader in early childhood for 75 years, Gowrie NSW provides diverse child care, family support and professional development services. Together with KU and Include Me, Gowrie NSW currently provides Inclusion Support Agencies with a reach of 80% of the geographical areas covering NSW/ACT. Gowrie NSW manages the current Indigenous Professional Support Unit for NSW/ACT and will continue to support services to welcome Indigenous Families and connect with their local Aboriginal communities through the Inclusion Agency.
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Media Contact: For more information please contact Gowrie NSW Marketing and Communications Manager Antonia Maiolo on 02 8571 9760 or email Antonia.maiolo@gowriensw.com.au
