Working Together – information for service partners

Our shared purpose is to support confident and creative children to thrive in strong, connected communities.

We work towards achieving this through:

1. Funding places in quality early learning centres (up to 960 hours per year for each child).
2. Delivering holistic support to children and families to help them address barriers to participation.
3. Providing tailored support for children to learn, make friends and build confidence to set themselves up for a great life.
4. Fostering supportive connections to help parents and carers through the transition from home to early learning and then in to Kindergarten.
5. Building the capacity of early childhood educators involved, through investment in professional learning and ongoing practice support. This ensures educators can best support the needs of the children and families involved in the program.

As well as free early learning, Working Together provides extra support for children and families.

Examples of holistic support include:

• connecting families with other support services, e.g. health providers
• attending appointments with families
• assisting with transport to get children to the early childhood service
• linking families with their local primary school
• identifying areas of interest for parents to develop themselves further, e.g. study or getting a driver licence

The Working Together team works in partnership with families to support them to build on their strengths and achieve their goals.

To take part in Working Together, children must be:

• Three years old on or before 1st of January in the year they will take part
• In their year before Kindergarten
• Not currently enrolled with an early childhood education and care service (sometimes known as childcare)

And meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have parents/primary carers who hold a Health Care Card
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Receive support or interventions from the Child Safety Service
• Have two or more concerns identified through the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)

With the parent or carer’s consent, Working Together accepts referrals from any service currently supporting a family. Referrals are made via our online referral form.

Working Together is now accepting new referrals for 2024.

Note that if the Working Together program is oversubscribed, families may be added to a waitlist and contacted if or when spaces become available. Full family engagement will not occur unless a placement is available.

If you have any questions or need extra support with a referral, please feel free to contact us. Our friendly team are available over the phone, by text or email, and are happy to discuss the program further. Visit the contact Working page to learn more.

There are multiple partner Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services across Tasmania delivering the Working Together program. See the list of current ECEC partner services here, or feel free to Contact Working Together if you need further information.

Quality early learning supports children’s health and wellbeing now and through their life. Working Together offers safe, fun and child focussed spaces create opportunities for children to:

• make new friends
• learn, play and thrive
• build confidence and independence
• develop their language and social skills
• establish routines
• prepare for school

Early learning leads to improved educational and life outcomes for children. Research has shown that children who engage in quality early learning are less likely to need extra support in school and are more likely to go on to complete Year 12.

Working Together is a chance for parents and carers to:

• Connect with other families and their community
• Have time for self-care
• Have time to pursue areas of interest
• Be supported to set and achieve their goals

Eligible families can start to take part in Working Together from February each year.

To get involved, you can contact our team via phone, text or email. Visit the Contact Working Together page to learn more.