$9.3 million lifeline for regional child care, Crook

NATIONALS WA Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has welcomed a new initiative from The Nationals WA to lend assistance to regional child care centres.

Regional child care centres are set to benefit from $9.3 million in Royalties for Regions funding over four years through the Regional Child Care Development Fund (RCCDF).

Mr Crook said the new funding would provide a lifeline to community child care centres in regional areas.

“The RCCDF recognises the significant challenges that regional child care face including distance, isolation, reliance on volunteers and lack of funds,” Mr Crook said.

“Families need access to quality child care in order to sustain work, education, training and other opportunities.”

Mr Crook said this new program showed excellent leadership from The Nationals WA.

“Ever since the Federal Government pulled the rug out from under our regional child care centres, The Nationals WA have been on the front foot to ensure that no regional community is left without access to child care.”

Mr Crook said the Federal Government had clearly dropped the ball on regional child care.

“In the 2010 Budget, the Federal Government slashed support for occasional child care by 52 per cent.

“This budget cut placed the livelihood of 21 occasional child care centres in regional WA in jeopardy – 17 of these centres provided the only child care option for their communities.”

“The support of The Nationals WA and Royalties for Regions ensured these centres were able to keep their doors open while the State Government to develop a more sustainable solution.”

In March this year Mr Crook took Minister Ellis on a tour of the Wheatbelt in an effort to persuade the Minister to retain funding for occasional childcare centres.

“Instead of lending a lifeline to these regional communities, the Minister passed the buck onto the State,” Mr Crook said.

“I’m pleased to see the State Government, with leadership from The Nationals WA, taking up the challenge.”

“Regional communities will greatly benefit from the RCCDF. It is great to see Royalties for Regions continue to support our regional child care services.”

Key areas of focus for the RCCDF include: training and professional development for regional child care workers; enhancing the sustainability of community managed services; development of services in regional areas; and developing a new model for regional child care, in line with Federal Government policy and funding.

Details about grants application process will be available in early 2012 at www.communities.wa.gov.au

** For further media inquiries please contact Cale Hill on 0467 450 000 **