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Children's & Youth Services
CHILDREN'S SERVICES
> Qualifications & Pathways • Traineeships • VET In Schools • Peak Bodies & Key Stakeholders • Resources
NSW ContextChildren’s services span a variety of service provision and job roles and are generally distinguished as centre based care, out of school hours care, family day care and mobile children’s services. Job roles range from care assistant, to team leader, supervisor and manager/director.
Centre based care The entry level qualification for an authorised supervisor in a centre based children’s service in NSW is CHC50908 Diploma of Children’s Services (Early childhood education and care). This requirement is regulated by Department of Community Services (DOCS) under the NSW Children and Young People (Care and Protection) Act 1998 and Children’s Services Regulation 2004. To be an authorised supervisor also requires 12 months work experience post qualification.
NSW Child Protection legislation Child care workers are among the group of people required by law to report to DOCS if they suspect (using their professional judgment and training), on reasonable grounds, that a child or young person is at risk of harm. All children's services staff, in every type of children's service, must be aware of their obligations as mandatory reporters and must have completed the required training. Training for mandatory reporting is aligned to CHCCHILD401A which is a compulsory unit or entry requirement in all children's services qualifications.
CHCChild401A Facilitator Training In 2005, child protection industry representatives developed a program to train facilitators in delivering entry-level child protection training and a set of learning resources to support this training. Two training providers deliver the two day training course to train facilitators in using the industry Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm learning resources (see Resources):
The Working With Children Check applies to all people seeking to work in child-related employment. In the Working With Children Check, paid and unpaid employees have to complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration Form. A Background Check is mandatory for paid employees (including contracted trainees) in child-related employment that involves direct and unsupervised contact with children. The Background Check involves:
Background Checks are conducted by the NSW Commission for Children and Young People and other Approved Screening Agencies. Employers can find the forms for registering with an Approved Screening Agency and getting a background check on a preferred applicant at http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/check.cfm |
Qualifications and Pathways
CHC30708 Certificate III in Children’s Services
CHC50908 Diploma of Children’s Services (Early childhood education and care)
CHC60208 Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services
In NSW, the Diploma may be a pathway to a university early childhood qualification. Application to a university is through UAC and advanced standing arrangements vary across courses and universities.
The following units of competency require that assessment is conducted on the job under the normal workplace conditions for a range of age groups, a range of conditions, over a number of assessment situations:
- CHCCHILD504B Assess risk of harm to children and young people
- CHCPR301A Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning
- CHCPR502D Organise experiences to facilitate and enhance children’s development
In NSW, CHCCN305A Provide care for babies is a preferred elective for the completion of the CHC30708 Certificate III in Children's Services. This unit of competency is an entry requirement to the CHC50908 Diploma of Children’s Services (Early childhood education and care). This unit of competency is also a requirement of the NSW Department of Community Services, under the Children's Service Regulation 2004, for empoyment as primary contact staff for children under 2 years of age.
Recognition
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification. There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches.
NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources. Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models.
Resources and further details are available at https://www.skillsonline.net.au/coagrpl_catalogue.html
Traineeships
The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW. Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements. This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.
As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin. Further advice is available from NSW DET http://apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/index1.htm
Traineeship pathways currently available in NSW for Children's Services qualification are:
CHC30708 Certificate III in Children’s Services
CHC50908 Diploma of Children’s Services (Early childhood education and care)
The NSW Children’s Services Regulation 2004 states that:
A licensee of a centre based or mobile children’s service must not employ a person as a member of the primary contact staff of the service unless the person is at least 18 years of age.
Children’s Services trainees must be 18 years of age prior to commencing work as a primary contact staff. It is not sufficient or appropriate to be employed in other positions in the service, such as cook or cleaner, as a trainee. Without employment as a primary contact staff, a trainee may not be able to gain the necessary knowledge and skills required in the competency standards for this qualification.
Note to employers: Clause 53 (4) of the Children's Services Regulation 2004 also states that: "in the counting of primary contact staff ........... a majority of the staff counted (and at least 2) are primary contact staff who are not trainees."
Advice from NSW Department of Community Services- Children's Services Traineeship: Eligilibity for persons aged less than 18 years
Advice has been received from the NSW Department of Community Services’ Children’s Services Directorate regarding the Children’s Services Regulation 2004 (the Regulation) and the employment of trainees.
The Regulation recognises the value of formal and informal qualifications and experience in setting standards for the staffing practices of licensees. The Regulation requires licensees to ensure that all people employed as primary contact staff are at least 18 years of age, possess basic knowledge of child development and have, ‘except in the case of a trainee, experience in caring for children’. It does not exclude staff who are under the age of 18 years from being employed in children’s services or contributing to the care of children but precludes staff who are under 18 years of age from being counted as primary contact staff and therefore being included in staff to child ratios.
The Regulation recognises that trainees are engaged in the provision of children’s services. It defines a trainee as someone who is ‘enrolled at a Registered Training Organisation in a duly accredited child care course under the Vocational and Educational Training Act 2005’.
Consequently a person under 18 years of age can be employed under traineeship arrangements to work directly with children but cannot be counted as primary contact staff toward the staff to child ratios specified by the Regulation for a centre or mobile children’s service.
Advice from NSW Department of Community Services- Children's Services Regulations 2004, Service Providers and Existing Worker Trainees
NSW Department of Community Services has provided the following clarification for existing workers in regard to Clause 53(4) which prevents a trainee who is at a service as a formal part of studies at an RTO from being counted as a primary contact staff member for staff:child ratio puposes.
A person who is employed as a primary contact staff member in an NSW children's service and who then goes on to train for the Certificate III or Diploma is not defined as a person who is a trainee at the service as a part of their studies. This is because the person is at the service because he or she was employed as a primary contact staff member, having met all the requirements of Clause 51(2) (including having experience in caring for children).
Therefore, a primary contact staff member who has gone on to undertake a Certificate III or Diploma traineeship is not classed as a trainee for the purposes of Clause 53(4).
CHC50302 Diploma of Children’s Services (Note: This advice relates to the CHC02 qualfication).
The funding advice from the DET Commissioner, October 30, 2007states:
In July 2007, the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training called for a report on the funding of apprenticeship and traineeship training in New South Wales. This report is expected to be completed in February 2008. So while Diploma and Advanced Diploma quallifications may be approved for delivery as traineeship or apprenticeship pathways in New South Wales no decision on the funding of their delivery will be made until 2008.Some targeted Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications attract financial assistance for eligible employers from the Commonwealth Govermnment.
Details of the Commonwealth's financial assistance can be seen at: http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/employer/incentives.aspNOTE: Diploma of Children's Services is a targeted qualification for financial assistance by the Commonwealth Government.
The Australian Government published advice on 1 January 2007 that named this qualification as eligible to attract employer incentives payments under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme. This advice also stated that:
Employers of Australian Apprentices undertaking one of the above Diploma qualifications (the list includes CHC50302 Diploma of Children’s Services) may now be eligible to attract incentives where:
- The Australian Apprentice has previously attained a qualification at the Certificate I, II, III or IV level; or
- The Australian Apprentice is an existing employee.
This advice is particularly significant as the core units of competency in the Certificate III are pre-requisite to the Diploma. This pathway will be relevant for candidates with a current Certificate III as well as those undertaking the Certificate III traineeship.
New payroll tax arrangements for apprentices and trainees
New arrangements for the payment of payroll tax for apprentices and trainees in NSW take effect from 1 July 2008.
Currently, wages paid to apprentices and new entrant trainees in NSW are exempt from payroll tax. From 1 July 2008, this exemption will no longer apply and all employers will be required to include the wages and salaries paid to apprentices and new entrant trainees in their payroll tax calculation. Further information available from Office of State Revenue click here
VET in Schools
Children's Services qualifications in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.
For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/
The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .
Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders
Child Care NSW
Child Care NSW is the peak that represents 650 Private Child Care Centres.
They work with all people involved in Child Care including the Government both State and Federal Community Child Care and multiple Centre Owners.
Community Childcare Cooperative
Community Child Care Co-operative is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1978 to promote, support and advocate for quality children’s services, meeting the needs of children, their families and the community.
Contact Inc
Contact Inc is the program for isolated children, families and communities. Contact Inc serves the community by working directly with parents, carers and agencies, which work in, or are related to, children’s services and programs.
Community Connections Solutions Australia (CCSA) Inc
(formerly Country Children's Services Assoc of NSW)
Community Connections Solutions Australia Inc (CCSA) is a not-for-profit, non-government, membership-based organisation that supports the management of high-quality early childhood services in NSW. They provide information, training and advocacy for the children’s services sector.
Early Childhood Australia
The peak national, non-profit, non-government organisation that acts in the interests of young children aged from birth to eight years of age. They are a knowledge broker linking quality assured early childhood knowledge and information to those who need it.
Indigenous Professional Support Unit
Indigenous Professional Support Unit provides high quality, flexible and innovative professional support, advice and training to staff in eligible Indigenous-run child care services to ensure quality care that is culturally safe, appropriate and meets the needs of Indigenous children, staff and families in NSW and the ACT. The Indigenous Professional Support Unit is an initiative of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program, funded by the Australia Government and managed by Lady Gowrie Child Care Centre, Sydney.
Network of Community Activities
Network was founded in 1974 and acts as a link up for community activities and for Out of School Hours Care Services run by autonomous community groups and local councils. Network is committed to helping promote quality community based services for school aged children, including children with disabilities
Children’s Services Directorate (DOCS)
In NSW, DOCS licenses, monitors compliance with the legislation and funds services for children from birth until start of formal schooling.
NSW Commission for Children and Young People
The Commission is an independent organisation that works with others to make NSW a better place for children and young people. The Commission reports directly to the NSW Parliament, and the Committee on Children and Young People oversees their work.
The Commission administers the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998.
NSW/ACT Independent Education Union
The Independent Education Union represents teachers and support staff in non-government schools, early childhood centres and other non-government educational institutions in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
NSW Local Government Shires Assn
The Local Government Association of NSW and the Shires Association of NSW are the peak industry bodies for Local Government in NSW.
United Services Union
The United Services Union (USU) has approximately 40,000 members and represents local government, energy, airline and clerical and administrative employees throughout NSW.
Resources
Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.
NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and NSW DET resources include:
Recognition Model and Resources
For Certificate III and Diploma Children's Services available from https://www.skillsonline.net.au/coagrpl_catalogue.html
CHC50302 DIPLOMA OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES RECOGNITION PATHWAY
This recognition pathway is for the Diploma of Children’s Services CHC50302 from the national Community Services Training Package CHC02, and provides an exit point for the Certificate III in Children’s Services CHC30402. This recognition strategy, the process and support resources have been endorsed by peak children’s services organisations in NSW who came together as the NSW Children’s Services Industry Reference Group. They provided valuable guidance, oversight and validation of the development of these recognition resources.
Applicants wishing to be assessed through this recognition pathway need to have:
- A current Working with Children Check
- Access to a Children’s Service and established relationship with children in that service (to allow an appropriate Workplace Assessment to occur)
- A recommended minimum of 5 years experience working in Australia or overseas in a Children’s Service.
The resource is available as a set on CD and includes:
- Information Booklet
- Applicant Handbook
- RTO and Assessor Handbook
- Employer Handbook
- Evidence Portfolio
- Record Book
Registered Training Organisations wishing to provide this recognition pathway may obtain the resources from:
Web www.skillsonline.net.au
CHC30402 CERTIFICATE III IN CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND CHC50302 DIPLOMA OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES TRAINEE RECORD BOOK
A record book has been developed and endorsed by NSW children’s services industry sectors. The Record Book is available from NSW Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Body:
Resources for CHCCHILD1C Identifying and responding to children and young people at risk of harm
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Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm: Training and assessment resource aligned to NSW child protection regulations and national unit of competency, CHCCHILD1C Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm. Resource includes a video/DVD (approx 45 mins) to support the face-to-face training, CD of written resources and assessor’s guide. |
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This video/DVD highlights key areas that are delivered through the face to face component of Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm. The video/DVD contains various scenarios that are used as triggers in the training to assist participants to identify the short and long term impact of child abuse and neglect. If you would like to use these resources for entry-level child protection training, you must have completed the facilitator training. Find out more information about the facilitator training. Details and order form available at: www.csh-itab.com.au |
Other resources may be available from industry peaks, National Training Information Service (NTIS), Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.
