The PSFO service supports the participation of children with additional needs in kindergarten programs. This includes children enrolled in Four-Year-Old, Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Early Start Kindergarten.
The Preschool Field Officer program is a targeted and time-limited capacity-building program. All Victorian funded kindergarten programs are eligible to access the PSFO service.
Funded kindergarten programs are available in a variety of settings. These include children’s centres, long day care centres, community kindergartens, independent schools and some government schools.
PSFOs use a locally responsive approach to assist early childhood educators. This approach includes consultative support, resourcing and practical advice. They also help educators link families to supports and services. These services include child and family supports, or for children with developmental concerns.
Children with additional needs
The PSFO program considers children who present with developmental concerns as potentially requiring additional support. These developmental concerns could include language delays, challenging behaviours or multiple disabilities.
Children with additional needs resulting from trauma are also eligible for PSFO referral.
Some children may receive support from existing programs or providers. Such providers include the NDIS or early childhood intervention continuity of support providers. The PSFO program expects that educators and the child's family will first seek support from these providers.
Early childhood intervention professionals will assist the child to participate in learning experiences. These meaningful learning experiences will be undertaken alongside the child's peers.
The PSFO role
The role of the PSFO is to support, guide and coach early childhood educators. This support assists educators to deliver high quality programs.
PSFOs work with early childhood educators to provide inclusive programs that meet the needs of all children.
The program operates within kindergarten programs and does not deliver direct intervention to a child.
Support to educators may include:
- providing information, resources, strategies, and experiences to inform programming
- assessing a child's capabilities to assist educators in identifying additional needs
- supporting educators to respond to a parents' concerns for their child's development
- planning support to complement the educator's expertise in children's learning and development
- building professional partnerships and collaborative relationships with educators
- modelling of specific skills, suggestions, and strategies with educators
- linking families to referral pathways for child and family supports
- assisting educators to embed child-specific teaching and learning opportunities into the kindergarten environment.
PSFO addresses by region
South Western Victoria
Gateway Support Services
12-14 Thompson Rd North Geelong, 3215
Phone: 03 5221 2984
Uniting Wimmera (Wimmera, Southern Mallee)
PO Box 442, HORSHAM 3402
Phone: 03 5362 4084
Email: psfo.wimmera@vt.uniting.org
Pinarc Disability Support
PO Box 1841, Bakery Hill, 3354
Phone: 03 5329 1300
Brimbank City Council
PO Box 70, Sunshine, 3020
Phone: 03 9249 4210
Melton City Council
PO Box 21, Melton, 3337
Phone: 03 9747 5316
Wyndham City Council
PO Box 197, Werribee, 3030
Phone: 03 9742 8199
Moonee Valley City Council
PO Box 126, Moonee Ponds, 3039
Phone: 03 9243 1052
Uniting Maribyrnong and Melbourne Local Government Areas
Email: psfo.maribyrnongmelbourne@vt.uniting.org
Hobsons Bay City Council
PO Box 21, Altona, 3018
Phone: 03 9932 1000
Warrnambool City Council
PO Box 198
Warrnambool Victoria 3280
Phone: 03 5559 4800
Email: contact@warrnambool.vic.gov.au
North Eastern Victoria
Knox City Council
511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South, 3152
Phone: 03 9298 8328
Manningham City Council
699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, 3108
Phone: 03 9840 9333
Shire of Yarra Ranges
PO Box 105, Lilydale, 3140
Phone: 1300 368 333
City of Monash
PO Box 1, Glen Waverley, 3150
Phone: 03 9518 3549
City of Boroondara
Private Bag 1, Camberwell, 3124
Phone: 03 9278 4444
Uniting Ringwood (Maroondah and Whitehorse)
Email: psfo.ringwood@vt.uniting.org
Scope (Victoria)
PO Box 128, Benalla, 3672
Phone: 03 5762 7121
Wangaratta Upper Murray Family Care
PO Box 389, Wangaratta, 3677
Phone: 03 5720 0000
Wodonga Upper Murray Family Care
PO Box 725, Wodonga, 3690
Phone: 02 6055 8000
North Western Victoria
St Lukes Anglicare
PO Box 315, Bendigo, 3552
Phone: 03 5440 1100 and 03 5440 111
Email: psfo@anglicarevic.org.au(opens in a new window)
St Lukes Anglicare
PO Box 137, Kyneton, 3444
Phone: 03 5422 6052
Email: psfo@anglicarevic.org.au(opens in a new window)
St Lukes Anglicare
PO Box 1147, Echuca, 3564
Phone: 03 5482 0910
Email: psfo@anglicarevic.org.au(opens in a new window)
Mallee Family Care
PO Box 1870, Mildura, 3502
Phone: 03 5023 5966
Noah's Ark Murray Early Intervention Service
64 Pye Street, Swan Hill, 3585
Phone: 03 5032 2351
Merri-bek City Council
Locked Bag 10
Brunswick Victoria 3056
Phone 03 9240 2314
Email: psfo@merri-bek.vic.gov.au
City of Yarra
PO Box 168, Richmond, 3121
Phone: 03 9205 5441
Darebin City Council
8a Newcastle Street, Thornbury, 3071
Phone: 03 8470 8888
City of Hume
Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows, 3047
Phone: 03 9205 2537
Uniting Northwest (Nillumbik, Banyule, Whittlesea)
Email: psfo.northwest@vt.uniting.org
South Eastern Victoria
South Gippsland Shire Council
Locked Bag 4, Leongatha, 3953
Phone: 03 5662 9205
Latrobe City Council
PO Box 264, Morwell, 3840
Phone: 1300 367 700
Uniting Gippsland
Phone: 0429 354 314
Email: psfo.eastgippsland.wellington@vt.uniting.org
Noah's Ark
Suite 38, Level 2, 68 Victor Crescent Narre Warren VIC 3805
Phone: 1800 819 146
Email: psfo@noahsarkinc.org.au(opens in a new window)
City of Greater Dandenong
PO Box 200, Dandenong, 3175
Phone: 03 8571 1814 and 03 8571 1817
Uniting Bayside and Kingston
Email: psfo.beaumaris@vt.uniting.org
Uniting Frankston and Mornington
Email: psfo.frankston@vt.uniting.org
Cardinia Shire
Sparkways
45 Yazaki Way
Carrum Downs Victoria 3201
Phone: 1300 677 275
Email: info@sparkways.org.au
Baw Baw Shire Council
PO Box 304, Warragul, 3820
Phone: 03 5624 2540
Port Phillip, Stonnington and Glen Eira
Email: psfo.southmelbourne@vt.uniting.org
More information
Translated factsheets
Updated