As stakeholders considered how best to implement the CSNMDS, it became clear that there could be a significant impact on the sector from the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs' (FaHCSIA) new Child Care Management System (CCMS). As a result, a 2 phased approach to examine the feasibility of implementing the CSNMDS has been agreed. These are outlined in more detail below.
Phase 1
This phase is undertaken while the CCMS is under development. It involves working with the education and community services departments in the states and territories to identify potential implementation strategies for the CSNMDS (and barriers to implementation) in relation to childcare and preschools on a jurisdiction specific basis.
Phase 2
The second phase of work would commence in 2008. The focus of Phase 2 is to work with the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to assess the extent to which the CCMS will generate data which is consistent with data elements specified in the CSNMDS. The work will also aim to evaluate the extent to which the Indigenous preschool census data and any other planned national activities will yield data elements consistent with the NMDS.
The AIHW has responsibility for undertaking both phases of the feasibility study. A report is planned to be available in the last quarter of 2008.