working below their occupational level, a mismatch that may impact the ECEC sector and its capacity to be more responsive to CALD communities. [9] We broadly support the thrust of the recommendations and the intent of the Inclusion Support Program to build the capacity of ECEC providers to address the needs of disadvantaged children. However, we are concerned that some options, broadly categorised as cultural competency, have been overlooked. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has argued that improving access to essential services by disadvantaged populations demands change at a systems level, at a professional level (e.g. ACECQA), at the level of the provider (e.g. ECEC provider) and change at the individual worker level. [10] In experience, capacity building is often operationalised in terms of additional training SSI’s especially at the individual worker level, with little attention paid to the necessary organisational, professional, or systemic changes. Individual workers are often limited in their capacity to effect change at the other, higher levels.[10] We urge the Commission to consider the multi-level approach to cultural competency put forward by the NHMRC in refining the final settings for the proposed Inclusion Support Program.[10] We believe that applying a cultural competence frame could maximise the potential benefits of the Inclusion Support Programs to children from CALD backgrounds and other disadvantaged populations. Conclusion The benefits of access to childcare and early childhood learning on workforce participation and childhood development are well established. Therefore, adequate access to ECEC is an essential service. In view, with improved policy settings ECEC can be a building block SSI’s to improve social, economic and civic participation of newly arrived migrants in Australia and contribute to economic prosperity and population well-being. Authorised by: Violet Roumeliotis, CEO 5/9/2014 Settlement Services International, Level 2, 158 Liverpool Road ASHFIELD NSW 2131
working below their occupational level, a mismatch that may impact the ECEC sector and its capacity to be more responsive to CALD communities. [9] We broadly support the thrust of the recommendations and the intent of the Inclusion Support Program to build the capacity of ECEC providers to address the needs of disadvantaged children. However, we are concerned that some options, broadly categorised as cultural competency, have been overlooked. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has argued that improving access to essential services by disadvantaged populations demands change at a systems level, at a professional level (e.g. ACECQA), at the level of the provider (e.g. ECEC provider) and change at the individual worker level. [10] In SSI’s experience, capacity building is often operationalised in terms of additional training especially at the individual worker level, with little attention paid to the necessary organisational, professional, or systemic changes. Individual workers are often limited in their capacity to effect change at the other, higher levels.[10] We urge the Commission to consider the multi-level approach to cultural competency put forward by the NHMRC in refining the final settings for the proposed Inclusion Support Program.[10] We believe that applying a cultural competence frame could maximise the potential benefits of the Inclusion Support Programs to children from CALD backgrounds and other disadvantaged populations. Conclusion The benefits of access to childcare and early childhood learning on workforce participation and childhood development are well established. Therefore, adequate access to ECEC is an essential service. In SSI’s view, with improved policy settings ECEC can be a building block to improve social, economic and civic participation of newly arrived migrants in Australia and contribute to economic prosperity and population well-being. Authorised by: Violet Roumeliotis, CEO 5/9/2014 Settlement Services International, Level 2, 158 Liverpool Road ASHFIELD NSW 2131