Does your service need help to include an Indigenous child or a child from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background into care?
The Bicultural Support Information sheet is now available in community languages.
Go to www.eccfcsc.org
What is the Bicultural Support Program?
The Bicultural Support Program is run by Ethnic
Child Care Family and Community Services
Co-operative for Children
Services Central. The Bicultural Support Program provides
additional resources to eligible children’s services to assist
with the inclusion of children from Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse backgrounds (CALD), Refugee and Indigenous Children.
Bicultural Support can be accessed to:
- assist in the initial settling-in period of children from CALD, refugee or Indigenous backgrounds for a limited period;
- provide initial language assistance to children, parents and staff, in order to help families and the service communicate;
- introduce the child’s culture to the service by assisting children, staff and parents to develop and present multicultural games, songs, food, and culturally appropriate activities;
- assist staff to understand diverse cultural practices and child rearing practices in Australian society; promote children’s self esteem about their cultural heritage; and encourage maintenance of, and support the development of, the child’s home language.
Bicultural Support Program provides approved children’s services with time-limited support from either:
- an on-site Bicultural Support Worker or
- an off-site Bicultural Support Consultant.
Who can use the service?
- Private and community-based Long Day Care centres;
- Outside School Hours Care services (including vacation care);
- Family Day Care services;
- Occasional Care services;
- In-Home Care services;
- Flexible/multifunctional services;
- Non-mainstream Outside School Hours Care services;
- Non-formula funded Occasional Care services;
- Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s services (MACS);
- Mobile Child Care service.
How do you access the Bicultural Support Program?
You need to be referred by:
- Children’s Services Central (call 1800 157 818) or
- Your regional Inclusion Support Agency (ISA) – click here to access details.
To find our more about Ethnic Child Care, Family & Community Services visit their website.