- Community identified improved childcare services as a top priority
- Cook Government supports construction of new childcare facility for Mingenew with $500,000 Lotterywest grant
- New purpose-built facility will enable expanded childcare services in the town
The Cook Government is supporting the expansion of early childhood education and care services in Mingenew through a $500,000 Lotterywest grant.
The grant will go towards the construction of a new purpose-built facility for the town's only childcare service, Mingenew Education and Care.
The funding will allow the service to increase its capacity to 24 places, expand to wider age ranges, and provide a full five-day-a-week early childhood education and care service, as well as before and after school care, which is not currently available.
Improved childcare services were identified by the Mingenew community, as a key priority duringa strategic community planning process, undertaken by the Shire of Mingenew.
As stated by Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"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.
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting early childhood education and care in our regions, as it is so important for children's development, and also supports parents to be part of the workforce.
"This is a great outcome for the community of Mingenew who have worked tirelessly to see this project become a reality."
As stated by Agricultural Region MLC Sandra Carr:
"Increased childcare capacity will provide immediate and long-term benefits for the Mingenew community.
"It will allow community members to help service the workforce needs of the region, and additionally improve education and social outcomes for young children in Mingenew.
As stated by Shire of Mingenew President Gary Cosgrove:
"This is fantastic news. This project has been a long time coming and the result of endless efforts from the community, the Community Resource Centre and Council. I would like to thank Lotterywest for this grant to enable the project to progress.
"We also need to recognise the CRC, parents, and communityfor their fundraising efforts in delivering $500,000 towards the project. This project will be an important enabler for attracting key workers and families to town, with the projected Arrowsmith Energy Hub development, and also providing existing families with a full five-day service."
