Kimberley receives share of $2.9m funding boost for early childhood education and care

The Kimberley will share nearly $2.9m as part of aims to strengthen early childhood education and care services across regional WA. The recipients include One Tree Community Services Inc., Child Australia, and Regional Early Education and Development Inc. One Tree Community Services has been tasked with developing initiatives tailored to address specific barriers within the Kimberley’s ECEC sector. It will implement the State Government’s Regional Early Years Learn and Lead program, extending its reach across the Kimberley, Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West, and Pilbara regions. Through the REYLL program, participating services will access supports including cultural practice training, online supported traineeships, navigating service transfers, management training, and recruitment resources to attract and retain staff. Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton said access to early learning is essential in setting up children for their futures. “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,” she said. Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said the investment will enable not-for-profit organisations to develop new initiatives and models of service tailored to the unique needs of regional WA. “Programs like the REYLL by One Tree Community Services Inc. will bring much-needed support and resources to regional areas such as the Kimberley,” she said. The Kimberley has grappled with a lack of childcare workers in recent years, with day care centres reporting wait lists of more than a year.