Community praised for work in setting up Donnybrook child care centre

14/11/98

Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker has praised the local community's effort in establishing Donnybrook's TreeHouse Childcare Centre, which was officially opened by the Minister today.

"The centre has come about because the people in the community were prepared to work hard for something they believed was needed," Mrs Parker said.

"Now 23 children have places in the centre, with a total of 90 children attending each week for activities such as before and after-school care, vacation support, occasional and long-day care."

The Minister said the number of children using the centre showed there was a strong community need.

The centre, which is located in the Donnybrook Primary School, was jointly funded by Family and Children's Services ($405,000), the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup (land and siteworks) and the Lotteries Commission ($30,000).

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services also provided several small additional establishment grants, as well as providing ongoing funding through Child Care Assistance and a Disadvantaged Area Subsidy.

"The development of this centre reflects the ongoing commitment by our Government to Western Australian families," Mrs Parker said.

"We believe that strong and healthy families result in strong and healthy communities.

"This commitment has been reflected in the funding for Family and Children's Services which has increased by 24 per cent over the last four years to $142 million a year."

Media contact: Owen Cole, 9481 7810