The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments are partnering to deliver a new integrated early years hub for families and children in South Australia’s south east.
The Naracoorte Child Day Care Centre (NCDCC) will expand and move to a new location, bringing together additional health, wellbeing and early education services to help children access the support they need in one place.
The $12.7 million project is being jointly funded through $6.6 million from the Albanese Government’s $1 billion Building Early Education Fund and $6.1 million from the Malinauskas Government’s Flying Start and Thriving Regions Fund initiatives.
The new facility will create an extra 55 places – boosting capacity to 90 early childhood education and care places – and help meet growing demand across the region.
Located at the old Naracoorte TAFE site, the integrated hub will be constructed, owned and operated by NCDCC, a community-based not-for-profit delivering long day care.
It will offer a range of services for families and support the universal rollout of Flying Start three-year-old preschool.
An expanded preschool program of up to 30 hours per week to improve children’s learning and development outcomes will be provided.
The new integrated hub will also have supports including allied health services, parenting programs and other community services.
The hub is expected to be open in early 2029. The existing service, on Park Terrace, will continue operating in its current location until the new centre is completed.
The Malinauskas Government will establish 20 integrated hubs across South Australia by 2032 – a key part of the state’s $1.9 billion commitment to early childhood reforms.
It builds on five other early education projects being delivered in regional South Australia as well as Adelaide’s northern suburbs under the Building Early Education Fund – at Kadina, Kimba, Quorn, Bordertown, and Davoren Park.
The $1 billion Building Early Education Fund provides capital funding to build and expand early learning services in areas of need, including regional communities and outer suburbs, helping families access quality early learning close to home.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh:
“The Albanese Labor Government is building more quality not-for-profit services where families need them most.
“We know the Naracoorte community has been calling for greater access to quality early education and care.
“Our $1 billion Building Early Education Fund is delivering more early learning centres for more families in more places, particularly in our outer suburbs and regions.
“This expanded centre will give more children grow and thrive in the years that matter most.
Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Lucy Hood:
“This is an important addition to our growing list of integrated hubs providing families access to early learning, health and family services in one central location.
“Naracoorte represents the halfway mark of the 20 hubs being rolled out, each with a focus on play-based learning to improve outcomes for children who need extra support.
“The centre has been serving the local community for more than a decade, and a larger, purpose-built facility will help ensure the service can accommodate future growth.”
Quotes attributable to Naracoorte Child Day Care Centre Director, Rachelle Fairs:
“As a small community not-for-profit, we believe in responding to and delivering outcomes for children and families in our region.
“We are excited to deliver a new service that will better support our community. We know this project is going to have significant benefits and ensure more local children get the support and opportunities they deserve.”
