Make sure no child is left out of early childhood education and care

Here, we take a closer look at priority number four.

4. Make sure no child is left out of early childhood education and care

• • 4.1 Establish a policy directive that clearly defines the responsibilities and requirements of early childhood education and care settings in supporting children living with diabetes.
  • 4.2 Create a new Diabetes and Early Childhood Education and Care program so all children can be included in care

All children and young people living with diabetes have the right to be included and thrive in education and care environments. Despite clear legal obligations to provide reasonable adjustments, children living with diabetes still encounter exclusion and discrimination.

Diabetes Victoria is contacted, on average, once a week by parents and carers of children experiencing discrimination. It is distressing for families who rightly expect their child to have equal access to education and care.

“We have around 750 children aged between 5-9 living with diabetes in Victoria,” says Diabetes in Schools State Coordinator Robyn Perlstein.

“Our advocacy service has supported many families who have found it very challenging to enrol their child in care, or keep them in care, after a diabetes diagnosis.

“There is no clear policy environment for early childhood education and care settings when it comes to diabetes.

We are calling on the next State Government to work with Diabetes Victoria to create a policy directive that provides clarity for the early childhood education and care sector about the responsibilities and requirements that enable children living with diabetes to participate.

Consistent training for staff

Most early childhood education and care settings do not have access to the structured, hands-on, face-to-face diabetes training delivered to schools through the NDSS Diabetes in Schools program.

This means families either train staff themselves (via a private diabetes educator) or attend the centre (sometimes multiple times a day) to administer insulin. Some parents do not return to the workforce because there is inadequate care for their child.

Investing in a program for early childhood education and care would support workforce participation for parents and carers who currently have no option but to provide full-time care for their child.

“There is a lack of support especially in terms of professional development in Type 1 Diabetes for these early childhood centre staff. The Victorian Government needs to support  families with young children living with diabetes,” Ms Perlstein says.

We are calling on the next State Government to invest $3.1 million over four years for Diabetes Victoria to deliver a new Diabetes and Early Childhood Education and Care program. We will work alongside paediatric diabetes health professionals across the state to deliver education and capacity building.

You can read more about the Diabetes Victoria state election priorities in the Diabetes Doesn't Rest policy document.