- Grants available to Local Government Authorities to deliver initiatives that attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia
- $250,000 available in this grant funding round
- Since 2021, $781,066 has been allocated to 23 local governments
- Applications close 16 October 2024
Regional Local Government Authorities (LGAs) are invited to apply for grant funding to attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia.
The announcement comes on Early Childhood Educators' Day 2024, which recognises and celebrates the work of early childhood educators in early learning services across Australia for their contribution to the wellbeing and healthy development of children.
The Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program (the Program) provides grants to regional LGAs to fund initiatives that support bringing in and keeping on early childhood educators.
For early childhood education and care services, attracting a high-quality workforce can be challenging, particularly in regional areas.
The Cook Government committed $1 million over four years in 2021 to support the attraction and retention of early childhood educators in regional areas.
Three rounds of funding have now been delivered, with a total of $781,066 distributed to 23 regional LGAs.
Initiatives delivered under round three funding include:
- $74,654.70 to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for the Goldfields Professional Development Project, delivered in partnership with the Shire of Coolgardie and the Shire of Leonora;
- $25,000 for the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup so they can provide housing support, training opportunities and travel costs;
- $25,000 for the Shire of Denmark to provide housing and travel subsidies for new and existing staff at Gumnuts Occasional Daycare; and
- $20,798.05 for the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley to provide subsidised housing and housing allowances.
Round four of the Program closes on 16 October 2024.
