Scholarships for Professional Development

As part of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) ECI Workforce Strategy, Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Victorian Chapter) has been contracted to manage the distribution of scholarships for Family Partnership Training and Strengths Approach Training for early childhood professionals.

Strength Approach Training

A strengths based approach to human services views service provision through a social justice framework. It utilises family centred practice and develops skills, techniques and processes that focus the belief that change is more likely to be sustained and maintained if strengths and solutions are explored primarily from the family’s perspective.

Twenty scholarships are available for the 2 day Strengths Approach Training Workshops which are scheduled on the following dates:

• 15 & 16 March 2010
• 3 & 4 June 2010

The workshops will be held at St Michaels Administration Building, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Family Partnership Training

The Family Partnerships approach is based upon an explicit framework that integrates the use of core helping skills and qualities with the processes of a goal orientated approach. The Family Partnerships Training covers:

• The needs of parents and children
• The parent-professional relationships
• The processes of helping
• The qualities and nature of communication skills needed in the helper to facilitate these processes

Participants are encouraged to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in the processes of engaging and relating to parents and supporting them effectively. These processes are assumed to involve the developments of a genuine and respectful partnership. This is supportive in its own right by facilitating parental self esteem and self efficacy, but is also the vehicle for the exploration of possible problems and joint problem-management.

Thirty-five scholarships are available for the 5 day Family Partnership Training. Dates include:

• February 23rd, March 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd (Royal Children’s Hospital)
• April 14th, 21st, 28th & May 5th & 12th (Biala Peninsular - Mornington)
• Other dates and venues to be advised

Who can apply?

Applicants must be employed by an early childhood intervention (ECI) service. ECI services must be funded by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to provide early childhood intervention services.

How to apply?

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must complete and return the Professional Development Application Form:
Download the Professional Development Application form here (PDF) or here (DOC).
Please note that the application form is set up for electronic submission. There is a “Submit” button at the end of the document. Alternatively, you can print it and send it in the mail.

Submitting Applications

The closing date for applications is 5th February 2010.
Please forward completed applications to:
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Victorian Chapter)
C/- Centre for Community Child Health
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road
Parkville Vic 3052
Email: exec@eciavic.org.au

Enquiries

Michelle Harvey, Executive Officer, ECIA (Victorian Chapter)
Phone : (03) 9509 5584
Website: www.eciavic.org.au