- Grants
of up to $25,000 to support the regional early childhood education and care
workforce
- Grants
fund incentives such as subsidised accommodation, relocation costs and further
training
- Part of
Cook Government's commitment to attract and retain childcare educators in our
regions
Regional Local Government Authorities (LGAs) are invited to apply for grant
funding to attract and retain regional early childcare educators and carers to
regional Western Australia.
The Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers
Program provides grants of up to $25,000 per annum to regional LGAs to fund
initiatives that support the early childhood education and care workforce.
The State Government committed $1,000,000 over four years in 2021 to
support the attraction and retention of early childhood education and care
workers in regional areas.
Two rounds of funding have now been delivered, with a total of $530,869
distributed to regional LGAs to support the provision of early childhood education
and care.
Initiatives delivered under Round 2 funding include support for
accommodation and relocation subsidies for educators, professional development
for existing staff and contributing to course costs for new trainees.
A review of the Grant Program in the lead up to Round 3 gave LGAs the
opportunity to provide feedback on the initiative. Some changes were made to
the Grant Program, including a greater focus on supporting family day care.
Round 3 of the Grant Program will open on Monday, 22 January 2024 and close
on Friday, 1 March 2024.
A webinar to support potential applicants will be held on Monday, 29
January 2024 at 11am.
For more information, contact grants@communities.wa.gov.au or visit Department
of Communities Grants Programs (www.wa.gov.au).
Comments attributed to Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine
Winton:
"Regional areas face unique challenges in building their early childhood
education and care workforce and the Cook Government's Attraction and Retention
Program supports local solutions to local challenges.
"The Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers
Program is an important opportunity for regional local governments to work in
partnership with local education and care services to assist with boosting their
workforce, helping to ensure that childcare is available to more families."
