- Community
identified improved childcare services as a top priority
- Cook
Government supports construction of new childcare facility for Mingenew with
$500,000 Lotterywest grant
- New purpose-built
facility will enable expanded childcare services in the town
The Cook Government is supporting the expansion of early childhood
education and care services in Mingenew through a $500,000 Lotterywest grant.
The
grant will go towards the construction of a new purpose-built facility for the
town's only childcare service, Mingenew Education and Care.
The
funding will allow the service to increase its capacity to 24 places, expand to
wider age ranges, and provide a full five-day-a-week early childhood education
and care service, as well as before and after school care, which is not
currently available.
Improved childcare services were identified by the
Mingenew community, as a key priority duringa
strategic community
planning process, undertaken by the Shire of Mingenew.
Comments attributed to Early Childhood
Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"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 Cook Government is
committed to supporting early childhood education and care in our regions, as
it is so important for children's development, and also supports parents to be
part of the workforce.
"This is a great outcome
for the community of Mingenew who have worked tirelessly to see this project
become a reality."
Comments attributed to Agricultural Region MLC Sandra Carr:
"Increased childcare
capacity will provide immediate and long-term benefits for the Mingenew
community.
"It
will allow community members to help service the workforce needs of the region,
and additionally improve education and social outcomes for young children in
Mingenew.
Comments attributed to
Shire of Mingenew President Gary Cosgrove:
"This is fantastic news.
This project has been a long time coming and the result of endless efforts from
the community, the Community Resource Centre and Council. I would like to thank
Lotterywest for this grant to enable the project to progress.
"We also need to
recognise the CRC, parents, and community for their fundraising efforts in
delivering $500,000 towards the project. This project will be an important
enabler for attracting key workers and families to town, with the projected
Arrowsmith Energy Hub development, and also providing existing families with a
full five-day service."
