The funding of a Charles Sturt University (CSU) tender for national research into the implementation of an integrated child care services model confirms the University as a leader in early childhood policy and practice.The $80 000 tender was awarded to researchers Professor Jennifer Sumsion and Ms Frances Press who are based at the School of Teacher Education at Bathurst. They are members of the Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE) at CSU, and the tender to complete Phase 1 of the national research proposal was submitted to the Professional Support Coordinators Alliance.
Professor Sumsion said the Australian Government has prioritized the implementation of integrated child care services, and this will potentially affect existing childcare infrastructure.
“Integrated child care services provide early childhood education and care, and a range of additional supports to families through the same service,” she said.
“Canada and the United Kingdom have implemented integrated child care models, and the federal government is keen to adopt this approach.
“The purpose of this research is to assist in the design and implementation of a similar model that will work best with Australian early childhood Government-funded centres.
“The CSU team of early childhood researchers - the same involved in designing the Early Years Learning Framework which has now commenced implementation phase - will explore how this can best be done.
“We need to understand the critical factors for successful integration in order to develop a professional development resource to support child care services to participate in integrated services provision,” Professor Sumsion said.
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