Wide Bay families to benefit from added early learning support
30 April 2018
Wide Bay families to benefit from added early learning support
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien has welcomed new funding from the Coalition Government for families to access more support in early childhood education and care.
“I am pleased to announce that seven child care and early learning services in Wide Bay will share in $3,200,000 through the Turnbull McCormack Government’s new Community Child Care Fund (CCCF)” said Llew O’Brien.
“The funding will deliver added security and support to local families, given how challenging it can be to access quality, reliable care outside of the major metropolitan areas.
“This support is good news for Wide Bay families and it is good news for local service providers, including:
- Family Day Care Gympie Region
- Goomboorian Playalong Activity Centre
- Gundoo Day Care Centre
- Maryborough And Districts Family Day Care Scheme
- PCYC School Age Care, Maryborough
- St Mary’s Outside School Hours Care
- St Patrick’s Outside School Hours Care, Gympie
“It will ensure the services are sustainable and will help to overcome some of the unique challenges that child care centres in regional areas manage, such as attracting and retaining qualified staff.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the new targeted CCCF is a key part of the Turnbull Government’s $2.5 billion reforms, which will help ensure child care is more affordable for those families who need it most, while giving vulnerable children a strong start in life.
“We want to help these valuable child care and early learning services take advantage of the Turnbull Government’s broader overhaul of the system to help us deliver more support for more families,” Minister Birmingham said.
“We recognise that Budget Based Funded services in particular often operate in remote and Indigenous communities and face unique circumstances, which is why we’ve guaranteed them a specific funding within the CCCF.
“This is a win for the many hard-working families who live in communities where access to quality, reliable child care is not always guaranteed” . Minister Birmingham said the switchover to the Turnbull Government’s new child care and early learning system starts on 2 July 2018, but urged families not to wait to the last minute to take action.
“Visit www.education.gov.au/childcare, estimate your new subsidy, and complete the myGov Child Care Subsidy Assessment to start the switchover to the new child care and early learning system.
Details about the Community Child Care Fund are available: https://www.education.gov.au/community-child-care-fund-0
