Long Day Care (LDC) centres in regional and remote Australia have received $275 000 in Australian Government funding to provide small capital assistant grants to upgrade and improve their facilities, offer additional child care places and increase the quality of care provided.
The Hon Maxine McKew MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, emphasised that the Government wants to ensure families have access to affordable, high-quality care, regardless of where they live in Australia.
“Our children’s early years are their most important, and by investing in these formative years, we are benefiting not only the children, but their families, and communities,” Ms McKew said.
“This funding will improve existing child care facilities in ten rural areas across the country, enabling those services to deliver high-quality care and provide additional long day care places.”
The Long Day Care Capital Funding Program will provide funding for heating and cooling systems, new and upgraded rooms, fences, shade structures, security upgrades and playground equipment.
The second round of funding for the Long Day Care Capital Funding Program is now open, offering $1 million for eligible LDC services to upgrade or expand facilities and infrastructure to make quality child care more accessible to the community.
Please see the full list of successful applicants for round one attached.
For more information, including on the second round of funding for the Long Day Care Capital Funding Program visit: http://www.oececc.gov.au/child_care/long_day_care.htm
ATTACHMENT
Long Day Care Capital Funding Program recipients: round one
- Jabiru Childcare Centre in the Northern Territory for infrastructure upgrades including new air conditioning and a new staff room.
- Nhulunbuy Children’s Services Inc in the Northern Territory for a bathroom upgrade.
- Gumnut House in Lithgow, New South Wales for the renovation of part of the building which will include the addition of a verandah.
- The Kookaburra Corner Children’s Centre in Cunnamulla, Queensland for the installation of a permanent shade structure and playground equipment.
- Tambo Childcare Centre in Queensland for the construction of a permanent shade structure and installation of rubber soft fall under the playground.
- The Valley Children’s Centre in New Norfolk, Tasmania for the conversion of two rooms and to build a fenced play area to accommodate another 20-30 children.
- Dover Child Care in Huonville, Tasmania for the construction of a designated sleep room, the installation of an upgraded heating system as well as updating the outdoor play area with shelter and play equipment.
- Kinglake Child Care Centre in Victoria for an upgrade of the outdoor area with synthetic ground surface, shading, playground equipment and a tricycle track.
- Kulin Child Care Centre in Western Australia for the installation of reverse cycle air conditioning, replacement of the existing wire mesh fence, construction of permanent shade structure and provision of outdoor play equipment.
- Collie Child Care and Early Learning Centre for the refurbishment of outside play areas, replacement of the perimeter fencing and an upgrade of security.