North coast early learning centres get a funding boost

RICHMOND federal member Justine Elliot has announced the federal government’s $641,035 in funding to three early learning services on the NSW North Coast.

The $80 million in federal funding was divided between 430 early childhood education and care services in disadvantaged, regional and remote communities nationwide.

The North Coast recipients include the Bangalow Outside School Hours Care, funded $62,746. The Rainbow Region Kids Coorabell and the Ballina Aboriginal Child and Family Centre received $398,289 and $180,000, respectively.

Ms Elliot said the funding from the government’s Community Child Care Fund is helping to address barriers to participation in early childhood education and care with 85 per cent of the funding directed towards regional and remote communities.

“We are ensuring North Coast families can access the transformational benefits of early childhood education,” Ms Elliot said.

“Families can make the choices that are best for them, particularly when it comes to balancing children’s early learning needs and being able to work more hours and boost household income. They will also benefit from Labor’s Cheaper Child Care reforms, which have made early childhood education more affordable for families on the North Coast.

“The Albanese Labor Government is also funding a 15 per cent wage increase for our early childhood education and care workers.

“As your local Labor MP, I’m proud to be delivering more than $640,000 in funding from the Albanese Labor Government for these local early learning services,” she said.

For more information on the Community Child Care Fund, head to education.gov.au/early-childhood/community-child-care-fund