Case study 3: Building trust to support Ava’s wellbeing

Ava is two years old and has recently been diagnosed with autism. Ava’s parents move her to a new early childhood service but do not disclose her diagnosis because they are anxious about being judged.

Ava’s old service proactively contacts her new service to share information using CISS but does not seek the views and wishes of Ava’s

parents, anticipating that they are likely to be resistant.

The director of Ava’s old service speaks to her counterpart at the new service and suggests that they focus on building trust with the family to give them the confidence to disclose Ava’s diagnosis and feel comfortable to talk about Ava’s needs.

The director of Ava’s old service also shares some of the strategies the service had used to engage Ava and help her self-soothe.

After talking to Ava’s old service, her new service prioritises building a relationship with Ava’s parents. Ava’s parents then feel comfortable to talk about her diagnosis and work with the service on developing consistent strategies to support her development and wellbeing.

Both early learning services are prescribed information sharing entities under CISS.

Ava’s old service proactively shares information with her new service to promote Ava’s wellbeing.

Ava’s old service does not seek the views and wishes of Ava’s parents, knowing that they would likely be resistant to sharing information.

Information-sharing leads to collaboration and shared strategies.

Both services keep written records of the information shared.

For detailed information about this case study please download Case studies for early childhood education and care services on the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS)