Funding lifeline keeps centres open, Grylls
Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 23-November-2011
Regional child care providers will benefit from a $9.3million additional State Government Royalties for Regions funding over the next four years.
Making the announcement today, Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the new funding would provide a lifeline to licensed community child care providers in rural Western Australia.
Regional services faced particular challenges providing and improving services as a result of factors such as distance, isolation, reliance on volunteers or lack of funds.
Mrs McSweeney said the Regional Child Care Development Fund (RCCDF) would support the long-term viability of regional child care services, which provided a critical service.
“Families need adequate child care in order to sustain work, education, training and other opportunities. If we want vibrant, thriving and happy communities with a bright economic future, then we need to provide adequate and quality childcare which caters for children’s important early learning years,” she said.
Mr Grylls said the RCCDF would provide intensive support to regional child care services.
“Key areas of focus for the funding include training and professional development for regional child care workers; enhancing the sustainability of community managed services; development of services in rural and regional areas; and developing a new model for rural and regional child care, in line with Federal Government policy and funding,” Mr Grylls said.
“Regional communities will benefit from the strengthening of these essential services and I am sure it will encourage further growth in regional WA. It’s great to see Royalties for Regions supporting this important development in the growth of child care services in regional WA.”
The RCCDF funding follows Royalties for Regions funding of $687,329 in February this year to help 21 occasional care centres, under threat following Federal Budget cuts
