What is an Inclusion Support Program (ISP)?

The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) is an Australian Government initiative designed to give child care services the funding and resources needed to support children with additional needs, disabilities, or developmental delays in mainstream care settings. Rather than limiting access, the ISP aims to make quality early education accessible to all children by removing barriers that might otherwise prevent inclusive care.

Through ISP funding, services can employ additional staff, purchase specialised equipment, access professional training, and develop customised support strategies tailored to individual children. This might include an inclusion support worker dedicated to assisting a child during the day, modifications to the physical environment, or resources for communication and learning. Services on the Gold Coast that participate in the program work with families and allied health professionals to create inclusive environments where children with additional needs can learn alongside their peers.

The program matters because it allows mainstream child care centres and family day care services to remain genuinely inclusive rather than turning away children who need extra support. For families on the Gold Coast, it means more options for quality child care without having to seek segregated or specialised-only settings. Services participating in ISP are accountable for how they use funding and must demonstrate progress toward the child's goals and inclusion outcomes.

If you are looking for services that actively support children with additional needs, browse providers specialising in special needs inclusion on the Gold Coast.