Learning, Development and Inclusion
Annette Barwick
General Manager Learning, Development and Inclusion
“A learner’s growth in confidence, a service’s commitment to inclusive practice and change in practice and the high performance of project teams is the other part of the story that I am privileged to witness every day.”
Welcome to an overview of the Learning, Development & Inclusion (LD&I) teams’ 2023-2024 year. In a year of challenges for many in the sector, the below data gives you an insight into the exceptional work of the team in supporting the education and care sector; however qualitative data is only one part of the story. A learner’s growth in confidence, a services commitment to inclusive practice and change in practice and the high performance of project teams is the other part of the story that I am privileged to witness every day; therefore I thank and applaud the LD&I team for their commitment to quality, continuous improvement for improving outcomes for children, families and indeed educators who educate and care for children every day.
Gowrie Training & Consultancy – Project Insights
Gowrie Training & Consultancy continued to support educators and services professional growth through targeted learning and development (65 online sessions, 13 workshops and 4 customised service workshops) in addition to oversight of several short term and long-term projects. Project insights and reports are below:
Early Years & School Age Care (EYSAC) Workforce Strategy – contracted to Lady Gowrie Tasmania through Early Childhood Australia, Tasmania Branch: https://eysac.com.au/final-report-july-2024/
Workforce Coordination Project: Community Services Industry Plan – Workforce Coordination Project
The Basics Initiative: The Department of Premier & Cabinet Grant – The Basics Initiative
Gowrie Training & Consultancy – Registered Training Organisation (45602)
In 2023-2024, a total of 191 learners (Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121 and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121) were active participants supported in their qualification pathway, with 60% of learners’ part of the LGT team. This reduced number represents a transition between the old and new qualifications offered.
In addition, during the 2023-24 period, 29 Certificate III and 21 Diploma traineeships were cancelled. This number is a clear indication of the workforce crisis that the sector is facing with reasons for cancelling study being juggling competing family priorities, leaving the sector and health and wellbeing. In total, 9 Certificate III and 5 Diploma learners completed their qualifications through the RTO in 2023-24. The RTO continues to actively assess factors that can influence retention and completion rates through the development of innovative training and assessment strategies.
Jo Canavan – RTO Manager
Inclusion Support Program (ISP) – An Australian Government Funded Program
The Inclusion Agency Tasmania (IAT) delivers the Australian Government’s Inclusion Support Program (ISP) across Tasmania. The IAT team comprises 13 Inclusion Professionals (IPs) and 2 Inclusion Professional Consultants located across three regions of the state who support 278 early childhood education and care services. This year saw just under 38% increase in support requests to the Inclusion Agency and during the ISP reporting period of July 2023 to June 2024, the team responded to 2701 requests for support with 2013 face-to-face coaching and support visits.
A key success for the IAT team has been the design and implementation of a new coaching framework that has been introduced to guide IPs practice and impact as it is an expectation that IPs spend the majority of their time in a coaching role. The IAT team continues to review systems and processes to support the ever-growing need across the sector.
In Home Care Agency
The In Home Care Agency (IHC) Support Agency, funded through the Australian Government, Department of Education supported 10 families. There are 4 families on the waitlist waiting for an available educator through the IHC Service Provider. The main barrier to growing this service to families is the availability of qualified educators who can predominately work non-standard hours. As the IHC Support Agency, the team continues to advocate for this much needed service to families.
Roxanne Ellis – Support Services Manager