Mobile Children’s Services provide flexible, responsive and innovative services to children and families experiencing social, geographic, cultural or economic isolation.
The Mobile Children’s Services Association of NSW Inc. (MCSA) is the peak advocacy and resourcing body for Mobile Children’s Services in NSW.
Regulatory arrangements for Mobiles after 1st January 2012
Along with other licensed children's services that are out of scope under the National Quality Framework, Mobile Children's Services have been in discussion with the NSW Department of Education and Communities [DEC] about regulating the services from 1st January 2012.
From 1st January 2012, the in-scope children's services will come under the National Law and National Regulation. The NSW Government will repeal the current Act and Regulation and needs to make a new Act and Regulation for the out of scope services.
DEC consulted with the out of scopes in mid-2011 through the NSW National Quality Framework Reference Group and have recently revised their position and put it to the out of scopes.
MCSA has accepted DEC's revised position which mean that the new legislation [Act and Regulation] will align administrative matters with the National Law and retain the current operational standards, which are generally higher than the national standards.
This is good. Mobiles will need to pay attention to the new adminoistrative arrangments around provider and service approvals and the new supervisor arrangements.
There is only one anomalous area: The requirement to have a Nominated Supervisor or Certified Supervisor on deck at all times. This will be OK over time.
In the meantime, MCSA is keen that Mobiles introduce the Early Years Learning Framework into their practice. It is a good framework for all types of Mobile Services and will make the transition to being 'in-scope' in 2015[?] much easier.
Tim Keegan
Executive Officer
Review of NSW Government funding of early childhood education
MCSA recently provided a submission to the independent Review of NSW Government funding of early childhood education.
The Review covers several Department of Education and Communities' funding sub-programs with a focus on Preschool services.
There are nearly 50 Mobile Preschool projects in NSW serving hundreds of communities, their hinterlands, hundreds of families and thousands of children.
MCSA has never supported the current 'per child' funding model, introduced in 2008, and called for an independent review of funding during the NSW election in March 2011.
The submission puts forward a number of Access and Affordability funding models for the different situations of the 880 dedicated Preschools in NSW as well as recommends a number of Quality and Enabling initiatives.
MCSA is keen that dedicated 'community engagement' strategies are put in place to ensure that the many children who do not have a Preschool experience in NSW have the opportunity to access them.
MCSA recommended a 'per service' funding model for most of the 880 NSW Preschools and a 'per child' funding model available to CCB/CCTR funded services [Funded by the Australian Government] where the 880 dedicated NSW Government funded Preschools cannot provide a place.
MCSA has recommended a 'contract for service' funding model for Mobile Preschools, tailored to the unique circumstances addressed by each Mobile Preschool, based on an Action Plan and budget.
Operating on an advance and withdraw basis, Mobile Preschools are a useful service delivery strategy for children, families and communities in isolated circumstances. A more effective and efficient funding model, as well as purposeful 'school community' engagement strategies, will allow more to be done.
Tim Keegan
Regulation of out of scope services
MCSA has provided a consultation paper to Mobile Children's Services on the NSW Government's proposal for the regulation of out of scope children's services under the National Quality Framework [NQF] after 31st December 2011.
Under the NQF, due to kick off from 1st January 2012, licensed Mobile Children's Services throughout Australia are termed 'out of scope' for the initial roll out.
In the meantime, there is a need for new legislation in each state to cover the out of scopes. This must kick in when the old legislation is repealed.
The NSW Government has been on top of this issue and has put forward a proposal that is consistent with consultations and further discussions held in the NSW National Quality Framework Reference Group in mid-2011.
Essentially, there will be a new Act and a new Regulation for the out of scopes in NSW.
The new Regulation will be aligned with the administrative aspects of the new National Law but keep the operational requirements of the old regulation.
Apart from a few elements, such as one certified and nominated supervisor provision, this will mean that Mobile Children's Services will have better standards than the in-scope services in NSW.
Tim Keegan
