Provision of Inclusion Development Fund Manager services - Inclusion Support Programme (ISP)

The ISP is a key component of the Government’s Child Care Safety Net and will provide support to early childhood and child care (ECCC) services to build their capacity and capability to include children with additional needs in mainstream services thereby providing them with an opportunity to learn and develop alongside their typically developing peers.

The ISP will commence on 1 July 2016, following the closure of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) on 30 June 2016.

The Department of Education and Training (“the department”) is seeking Tenders for the provision of the Inclusion Development Fund (IDF) Manager services under the ISP. The department will procure the services of one organisation to facilitate equitable access to the IDF for eligible ECCC services through a nationally consistent approach to assessing and approving applications. The IDF is outlined in detail within this RFT and the ‘draft for consultation’ version of the ISP Programmes Guidelines, available on www.education.gov.au/inclusion-support-programme. The Programme Guidelines are currently being finalised and, once completed, will be posted as an addendum on AusTender.

Services provided by the IDF Manager may include (but are not limited to) assessing, managing and administering the IDF in line with the Programme Guidelines and ensuring access to and availability of, up- to- date information, guidance and support to stakeholders in relation to the IDF.