Project Background

In 2006 Bankstown Community Resource Group Inc. (BCRG) was funded through the Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme from the Department of Community Services to develop a new and innovative model of communication intervention.

The project will be run in partnership with the University of Sydney and will involve the development of competency based communication training for child care workers that will be delivered by a BCRG speech pathologist based within the child care centre for two days a week for a ten week block.

The Bankstown Community Resource Group speech pathologists designed this model in response to needs identified in a survey completed by child care centre staff regarding the inclusion of children with communication disorders. Analysis of the results indicated that:

• Child care staff feel they would benefit from more training to support the inclusion of children with communication difficulties in the child care centre. Staff said they had not received enough, if any, training to support inclusion of children with communication difficulties as part of their initial training.

• Child care Staff also commented that recommendations provided by speech pathologists were often hard to implement within the child care centre for all children.

• The majority of child care centre staff said that contact with a speech pathologist and ‘hands on’ experience were most beneficial in increasing their knowledge and understanding of speech and language impairments.

Aim of the Project

• To develop a new model of communication intervention;
• To develop competency based communication intervention training modules for child care workers that will be accredited through VETAB;
• to implement training modules and build the knowledge and skills of Bankstown child care centre (CCC) staff and parents in supporting children’s communication development and supporting language development as a precursor to literacy;
• to create an optimal language learning environment and establish CCC’s of communication intervention best practice;
• Encourage other CCC to be able to attend and observe best practice in total communication.

Description of the Project

The project will provide access to a speech pathologist who will work with a child care centre (CCC) that has a minimum of 30 per cent of their children from diverse backgrounds such as CALD children, ATSI children and children who have a developmental and/or language delay.

In collaboration with University of Sydney, communication training modules for staff will be developed and delivered within the CCC setting. The BCRG Inc. speech pathologist will work in 10 Centres for a 10 week block over a 4 year period. Four training module areas will be developed. CCC staff will need to complete assessment tasks to demonstrate competence in that area.

This project has an action research component involving a thorough evaluation at the conclusion of the 10 week block placement undertaken by the University of Sydney. As a result, the project model and communication training modules will then be modified before the implementation of the next block.

 The Child care centre staff will:

• undertake practical, accredited competency based training on-line within the work environment

 The families will:

• be invited to attend workshops to assist in the development of  communication in the home

• Be invited to come to open days within the child care centre to observe and be involved in using strategies to develop their child’s communication skills.

BCRG has completed implementation of this program at Fairy Kingdom Child Care Centre in Revesby, Angel Faces Long Day Care Centre in Bass Hill, Peachtree Kindergarten in Yagoona, Bankstown Multicultural Child Care Centre in Bankstown, Teddy Tammy in Condell Park, Stay Play and Learn in Chester Hill and Playtime Preschool in Greenacre.

For more information or enquiries about participation in this program, please call our Executive Officer on 9796 2931.