- $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
Comments attributed to 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."
