Preschool Field Officer program

Preschool Field Officers (PSFOs) provide short-term guidance and coaching to early childhood educators. This support aims to improve the inclusion of children with additional needs.

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 Email: PSFOteam@Hume.vic.gov.au

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 (Casey) Suite 38, Level 2, 68 Victor Crescent Narre Warren VIC 3805 Phone: 1800 819 140 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

Noah’s Ark (Cardinia Shire) Suite 38, Level 2, 68 Victor Crescent Narre Warren VIC 3805 Phone: 1800 819 140

Baw Baw Shire Council PO Box 304, Warragul, 3820 Phone: 03 5624 2540

Uniting Port Phillip, Stonnington and Glen Eira Email: psfo.southmelbourne@vt.uniting.org