- $2.9 million in funding to support regional Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services awarded to three not-for-profit community organisations
- Organisations will develop and deliver new initiatives and models of service that support Early Childhood Education and Care in regional Western Australia
- Funding boost delivers on 2021 Election Commitment
Three not-for-profit community organisations have been awarded nearly $2.9 million in funding to develop and deliver new initiatives and models of service that support and strengthen Early Childhood Education and Care services across regional Western Australia.
The grants have been awarded to One Tree Community Services Inc, Child Australia and Regional Early Education and Development Inc to develop initiatives that address key barriers facing the sector in regional areas, including Western Australia’s vast geographic size.
For Early Childhood Education and Care services, attracting, developing, and retaining a high-quality workforce can also be a significant issue, particularly in regional areas.
In response to these challenges, One Tree Community Services Inc have been funded to deliver the Regional Early Years Learn and Lead (REYLL) program in the Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Kimberley, Mid West and Pilbara regions.
Through the REYLL program, participating services will access supports including cultural practice training, online supported traineeships, navigating service transfers, management training, and recruitment resources to attract and retain staff.
Child Australia will deliver the ECEC Support, Empowering Regional Services WA coordination support model program in the Great Southern, Peel (excluding Mandurah), South West and Wheatbelt regions.
Regional Early Education and Development Inc will expand their existing REED Cluster Model to the Goldfields-Esperance, Great Southern and South West regions.
The State Government committed $5.1 million to Supporting Early Childhood Education and Care in Regional WA for a range of activities to assist regional services to address challenges of regional early education and care services.
This investment included $1 million in grant funding to support the regional Early Childhood Education and Care workforce through the Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program.
For more information: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/department-of-communities-grants-programs
As stated by Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton:
“Access to early learning is essential in setting up children for their futures.
“We know that access to quality early childhood education and care is vital to meeting the needs of young children and families in regional communities.
“The State Government is committed to building the capacity of the community services sector to find innovative ways to deliver early education services in regional areas.
“It is important to recognise that the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce is essential to meeting the needs of our working families in regional communities.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact these initiatives developed by One Tree Community Services Inc, Child Australia, and Regional Early Education and Development Inc will have on services across regional Western Australia.”
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“This investment will enable not-for-profit organisations to develop new initiatives and models of service tailored to the unique needs of regional Western Australia.
“Programs like the REYLL by One Tree Community Services Inc will bring much-needed support and resources to regional areas such as the Kimberley.
“Additionally, the commitment of $5.1 million from the State Government signifies a crucial step in bolstering the quality and accessibility of Early Childhood Education and Care services in regional WA.
“This funding will undoubtedly make a positive impact on young children and families in the Kimberley region, enhancing early education and care opportunities for all.”
