Participants at the Sharing Places Workshops held earlier this year highlighted the unique and valuable contribution that early years professionals make to children’s wellbeing and safety.
The workshops, held in Robinvale and Doveton, brought together leaders and practitioners from early years services, schools, child protection and Victoria Police. Attendees shared how they have been using the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) to gain and share information to help children thrive, and were eager to explore how services can continue to build on this collaborative work.
Early childhood professionals have a critical role in child information sharing, thanks to the perspective they gain from their close relationships with children and families. Seeking information under CISS can also support the key learning and development outcomes of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYDLF), particularly identity, wellbeing and community.
In welcoming participants to the Doveton workshops, co-chair and Doveton College Principal Debra Gibson commended the work participants were doing to strengthen their information sharing practices and build collaborative relationships with other professionals to support children. She said this work must continue.
‘Never before has it been more important to fully understand the complexities of our children and their families so that we can support, nurture and guide them towards a successful future,’ Debra said.
‘Our kids and their families are complex, and if we are to do our best work and have the greatest impact we need to know and understand them and their histories.’
Sign up for training to learn more
Many early childhood services are authorised to request and share information under the information sharing reforms, including kindergartens, long day care and most outside school hours care services.
To learn more about your responsibilities and obligations under CISS and the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS), access free eLearn or webinar training options through the Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System.
To organise tailored information sharing training for your team, contact the department’s Victorian Child Information Sharing team by email: childinfosharing@education.vic.gov.au
Register for our Webinar: Information Sharing for Education Workforces
These 3.5-hour interactive webinars are presented by a team of educators and are appropriate for all early childhood professionals.
Morning and afternoon sessions are available several times a week.
Register through the Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System. To enrol, select the ‘Education Workforces’ tile and select from the webinar options available.
Funding is available to support early years educators who want to attend information sharing webinars.
For more information, contact the department by email: cisandfvis@education.vic.gov.au
Find out more
For more information, refer to Child protection in early childhood: privacy and information sharing.
For further enquiries, contact the Victorian Child Information Sharing team by email: childinfosharing@education.vic.gov.au
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