A Strategic Assessment of the Children's Services Industry

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STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT OF THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES INDUSTRYconnections with a range of professionals at one time, in one place and an integrated approachto support.To date, 820 families with 959 children have been involved in Learning Together. Many ofthese families attend more than one Learning Together activity each week. Currently, 329families are attending Learning Together. 22% of families are from Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander backgrounds and 37% of families have sole parents. 62% of parents are on apension or benefit. Only about 2% of families have had any contact with early childhoodservices prior to engaging with Learning Together and many parents have not completed year12.A range of positive impacts for families have been reported. These include increased parentconfidence and understanding in supporting children’s learning, improved parent / childengagement, parent enrolment in further study, increased social support and improvedconnections for families with a range of children’s and family services.Learning Together has helped parents re-engage with their own learning through both formaland informal paths. In 2008 33 parents are engaged in study for the South AustralianCertificate of Education (SACE), and 33% of these parents are Aboriginal.Initially the development of new ways of working in community, using a ‘strength based’approach and engaging families that are traditionally ‘hard to reach’ was challenging to themanagers. Extensive consultation and an organic approach to growing and developing theprogramme over time were critical to this. Finding ways to work with staff from otherdepartments was also challenging.Currently the greatest challenge is coming from the pressure to extend the programme bothwithin each district and to other districts.This is now an ongoing programme.For more information, please contact: Jane Hargreaves, Department of Education andChildren’s Services, South Australia, hargreaves.jane@saugov.sa.gov.auRemote and Isolated Children’s Exercise (RICE) - including Outback Child care SAThe Remote and Isolated Children’s Exercise (RICE) is a not for profit organisation thatdelivers a programme that aims to assist and support families with their children’sdevelopment and learning through the provision of integrated health, social well-being andeducational / care services for families geographically isolated families in South Australia.RICE provides such services (targeted at children aged 0-8 years) in some areas so isolatedthat conventional departmental services are not workable.RICE also sponsors Outback Child care SA, that provides child care (targeted at children aged0-12 years) to eligible families in their own home for up to six weeks per annum. Due to thehigh cost of travel to and from placements, care is provided in two week blocks as aminimum.The RICE model was developed under a partnership arrangement between the Australian andSouth Australian Governments in 1997.Ongoing funding from State Government through the Department of Education andChildren’s Services (currently $180,000 per annum) and from the Australian Government63
STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT OF THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES INDUSTRYthrough the Department of Families, Community Services and Ingenious Affairs (currently$215,980 per annum).Highlights of RICE is the contact and support provided to families who may not otherwisehave contact in respect to their children’s health, social well-being and educational / careneeds.RICE also provides services that support development in the community. For example:-• Crèches are provided for meetings and training development throughout the region• Activity days at community eventsParents through participation in the management committee can develop knowledge and skillsin decision making, governance, problem solving and financial management.Ongoing challenges have included retaining staff and attracting and employing new staff.Maintaining contact with children through a home visiting programme (in remote locations)places demands on staff particularly in relation to OHSW. For example, staff may berequired to sleep over in a family home due to their remote location.Contact: Helen Leo, Senior Policy Officer, Program and Service Development, Department ofEducation and Children’s Services leo.helen@saugov.sa.gov.au64
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