With a rise in the number of children in our OSHC services with additional needs, we were challenged with the need for improved practices to make it easier for children, families and schools.

Additional needs come in many forms, including disabilities (physical, intellectual, mental and medical), living in complex or vulnerable circumstances and varying cultural, linguistic or family backgrounds.

Providing inclusive care promotes participation, learning and development, which often leads to future success. At Camp Australia, we are committed to working with children, families and schools to provide a tailored approach within our OSHC services by understanding and supporting those with additional needs.

Creating a System to Support Children with Additional Needs

We have partnered with industry experts to help our teams address the growing need to provide an inclusive environment for children with additional needs. We worked with Andrew Fuller, a leading clinical psychologist and author who specialises in the wellbeing of children and families to develop a tailored industry leading framework, called the CARE Program.

The CARE Program is part of an overall strategy to promote inclusion and is a dynamic process which is constantly evolving. The Program relies on four principles:

• Collaboration - we work together with children, their families and the school community, ensuring a personalised approach is adopted.
• Adaptation - we adapt to provide a specialised program to support each child.
• Resolution - we resolve challenging behaviour by remaining calm, resilient and respectful.
• Early Intervention - we start the process early to support a child’s development, health, wellbeing and physical needs.

Camp Australia Staff have embraced this program

Over 1,500 staff have completed the course and we are seeing significant improvements.

We recognise that children have varying learning styles and our evidence-based CARE Program equips Educators with the tools and knowledge to be able to tailor experiences accordingly and ensure our OSHC services are inclusion ready.

The program also allows families to feel supported and ultimately enables education, the environment and policies to meet the needs of all children.

To find out how Your OSHC can support your school and community, please contact us on 1300 792 668 or via partnerwithus@campaustralia.com.au.