Shires of Denmark, Gnowangerup and Broomehill-Tambellup to get $65,000 for childcare staffing retention

The Great Southern will receive $65,000 as part of the State Government’s $250,000 attraction and retention packages for regional childcare workers announced on July 8. The funding, now in its third round, will go to 10 regional local governments including three in the Great Southern, which will bring the total spend by the State Government to $781,066 across 23 regional local government areas. The Shire of Denmark will receive $25,000 to attract and retain staff for its Gumnut Corner Occasional Daycare, the Shire of Gnowangerup will receive $20,798.05 to provide cost-of-living relief to educators, and the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup will receive $19,800.05 to support the delivery of Early Childhood Education and Care services at Tambellup Family Daycare. Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton said the scheme recognised the crucial need for early childhood education staff. “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. “It also plays an important role in regional economies, enabling parents to return to work and supporting the operation of regional businesses. “These grants to attract and retain early childhood educators will ensure more young children have the best possible start to life.” A big winner in this funding round was the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder which will receive almost $75,000 to deliver a Goldfields professional development project in partnership with the shires of Coolgardie and Leonora. The South West Shire of Donnybrook Balingup will dedicate its $20,000 grant to attract and retain childcare workers, and the shires of Shark Bay and Wyndham-East Kimberley will each spend $20,798.05 on housing support for workers in the sector.