Grants Awarded To Attract Early Childhood Educators

• 10 local governments will share in over $250,000 to attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia
• City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder will receive more than $74,000 for Goldfields Professional Development Project
• Part of Cook Government's commitment to attract and retain early childhood educators in regional WA

Initiatives that support workers to upskill, help with relocation costs and subsidise housing are among the recipients of a Cook Government grant program to help attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia.

10 regional local governments will share in over $250,000 in grant funding as part of the Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program (the Program).

The recipients include the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, which will receive more than $74,000 for its Goldfields Professional Development Project, delivered in partnership with Shire of Coolgardie and Shire of Leonora.

The project will contribute to the attraction and retention of qualified early childhood educators in the Goldfields, taking the unique needs of the region into account.

It brings the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's total funding received through the Program to almost $100,000.

For early childhood education and care services, bringing in and keeping on a high-quality workforce can be challenging, particularly in regional areas.

Today's announcement of Round 3 of the Program sees a total of $781,066 delivered to 23 regional local government authorities across Western Australia.

The program is delivered with the support of the Western Australian Local Government Association and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

In 2021, the Cook Government committed $1 million over four years to support the attraction and retention of early childhood education and care workers in regional WA.

Other measures to support early childhood education and care workers include $2.9 million, announced in May, for three not-for-profit organisations to develop initiatives that address key barriers facing the sector in regional WA, including in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

As stated by Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton:

"Ensuring that Western Australians have access to high quality Early Childhood Education and Care is a priority of the Cook Government.

"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.

"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."

As stated by Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent:

"The importance of having quality early childhood educators in regional areas such as Kalgoorlie cannot be understated.

"I am proud to be part of a State Government that is committed to building the capacity of the Early Childhood Education and Care sector across Western Australia.

"I look forward to seeing how the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's Goldfields Professional Development Project will help contribute to building a strong Early Childhood Education and Care workforce in the Goldfields region."

Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program 2024 recipients