ACT Professional Support Coordinator
Conference Sponsorship
The ACT Professional Support Coordinator (ACT PSC) is part of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program, an integrated and nationally consistent approach to meeting the professional and inclusion support needs of eligible children's services, funded by the Australian Government.
The outcomes of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program are to:
- Promote and maintain high quality care and inclusion for all children in eligible child care services, by increasing the skill level of carers and service staff in line with nationally consistent priorities; and
- Provide eligible children's services regardless of geographic location with access to quality professional support that is appropriate, relevant and timely.
Conference sponsorship
ACT PSC is offering sponsorship to subsidise the cost of conference registration to enable practitioners to participate in a professional conference.
There are ten subsidy packages available per service type. Packages are available to practitioners from:
1. Long Day Care & Occasional Care
2. School Age Care including Vacation Care
3. Family Day Care & In Home Care (Two packages per scheme)
Sponsorship will subsidise the conference registration fee to a maximum of $200.The cost of transportation, food, accommodation, pre-conference workshops and other personal expenses will not be covered by the subsidy.
Aim
The aim of the program is to:
- Provide opportunities for children’s services practitioners in the ACT to gain professional skills and knowledge to support the provision of high quality care and education for children and their families.
- Create pathways for the sharing of skills, knowledge and information with the ACT children’s services community.
Eligibility
To be eligible for sponsorship applicants must be able to demonstrate:
They have their employers support to attend the conference.
They are currently employed at an Australian Government Approved Children’s service; a service in receipt of Child Care Benefit.
How the applicant and potentially others will benefit from attending the conference.
The potential to share learning with colleagues and networks. This will include submitting a brief article for the PSC newsletter.
Application Process
1. Application forms can be obtained from the ACT PSC by emailing to actpsc@commsatwork.org or calling 1800 228 772 or 02 6287 3330.
2. Applicants will submit completed application forms at least eight weeks prior to the registration deadline of the conference they wish to attend.
3. Applications may be submitted electronically to actpsc@commsatwork.org via mail PO Box 3955 Weston ACT 2611, faxed on (02) 6287 4242 or delivered in person at Upper Level Cooleman Court, Brierly St, Weston.
4. Applications will be assessed by an independent panel of professionals with experience in each service type.
5. Successful applicants will be notified four weeks prior to the registration deadline of the event.
Application Guidelines
1. Unsuccessful applicants, unless advised otherwise, will have the opportunity to apply for future sponsorship subject to continuation of funding.
2. Entry to the program is by application and selection is based on merit. The selection panel will take into consideration the following: the benefits for the applicant from participation at a conference, the demonstrated ability of the applicant to share their learning from the conference with their service and the wider children’s services community.
3. Applications will be assessed by a selection panel compiled of ACT PSC staff and independent professionals with experience in each service type.
4. Successful applicants must provide evidence of costs to ACT PSC and payment will be made to the applicant/organisers as agreed.
5. The sponsorship subsidy for 2008 is capped at a maximum of $200.00 per successful applicant.
6. The application process will be reviewed at the end of each year subject to continuation of funding.
7. Conferences must be held in 2008.
8. Applications must be lodged at least 8 weeks prior to the registration deadline of the conference. Retrospective applications will not be accepted.
9. If the applicant is unable to attend the event, they will be held responsible for any costs incurred to the Sponsorship Program.
10 The Sponsorship Program will cease operations for any year once funds have been expended.
11. Only one sponsorship package will be approved per person.
