SDN Children's Services Inc. Annual Report 2010

Early Learning Program is for children from birth to five years
with a diagnosed disability, developmental delay or where
there are concerns about a developmental delay. Funding of
$234 849 from ADHC and $87 730 from DET.
Playlinks is a mobile play group for families with children aged
from birth to six years with a disability. Funding of $166 170
from Families NSW.
Community of Learners is a child development program
joining children with disabilities or development delays aged
from birth to five years and their families with specialists and
early childhood education professionals. Funding of $211 599
from ADHC.
Language Links is a free, home-based early intervention
program to develop language skills for children up to
three years with speech delays. Funding of $105 799 from
ADHC.
Aboriginal training and employment support
Tracks in Learning is an SDN initiative to support Aboriginal
women and their families to engage in learning opportunities
(including early childhood education at TAFE and adult
education and training) that lead to employment. Funding of
$145 250 from FaHCSIA.
‘
We’ve been there to help when families are being evicted from
their home, when there’s been a death in the family, or a child
is born with a disability, or when there’s been family violence.
It can make such a difference when someone can be by your
side at these times.
‘
Megan Turner, Family Resource Worker
Aboriginal Playgroups are three privately funded play groups
we run for families with young children in Glebe, Marrickville
and Redfern for 2–3 hours per week during school time.
Funded by SDN donors.
Subsidised fees and scholarship programs to facilitate
the enrolment of children with additional needs into
mainstream child care and preschool
Fees are subsidised through several of our programs,
including Brighter Futures, Inclusion Support Agencies,
SCAN, Child Care Links, Poets Corner Preschool Project, and
Tracks in Learning. SDN also offers Aboriginal Early Childhood
Scholarships which are funded through private donations (see
page 34).
Resources and support for other child care providers to
include children with a disability, and children who are
marginalised or facing challenges
Inclusion Support Agencies work with other child care
providers to help them be inclusive of all children. Funding of
$2 722 058 from DEEWR.
Supporting Children with Additional Needs provides
consultancy, cultural education and funding to support the
access and inclusion of children with additional needs in
children’s services. Funding of $1 712 888 from Community
Services.
Inner and Eastern Sydney Interagency runs a network
of children’s services organisations and helps to build their
capacity to support families and children. Funding of $63 479
from Families NSW.
Family resource and support programs
Child and Family Resource Centre, Granville is a centre
offering a range of services for children from birth to eight
years including a toy library, Stay and Play sessions, parenting
advice, information and support. Funding of $74 000 from
FaHCSIA and Community Services.
Child Care Links strengthens community networks and
helps parents with young children link up with local support
services. Funding of $100 356 from FaHCSIA.
‘
SDN Inclusion Support Agencies have responded to more than
2000 requests for support from child care services to increase
their capacity to be inclusive of all children. Our teams are highly
skilled and have made a significant contribution to the work of
hundreds of child care services in Sydney.
Catherine Anderson, Julie Pearson and Tracy Chu, SDN’s Inclusion
Support Agency Managers
‘
Many families face one challenge after another and they
never know what’s around the corner. Through Stay and
Play and the Toy Library at the SDN Child and Family
Resource Centre, we’ve built relationships with families and
it’s rewarding to see the children progress.
Tina Robinson, operations coordinator
‘
‘
‘
SDN Annual Report 2010 17