Theorizing integrated service provision in Australia: policies, philosophies, practices

In Australia, as in many other countries, there is strong government interest in the potential of integrated services, in which professionals from a range of disciplines—including Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)—work together to enable families, especially those dealing with multiple challenges, to have seamless access to a variety of services. This interest reflects a growing recognition of the interrelatedness of complex social and health problems experienced by many families and has been widely welcomed in Australia, not only for its potential to provide more effective support for families, but also for opening up new possibilities for partnerships between government, families, services, and practitioners (Nichols & Jurvansuu, 2008; Press, Sumsion, & Wong, 2010). This chapter builds on our interest in exploring the nature and scope of those possibilities.