Brookton Childcare Centre joins REED cluster management model

Milly Molly Mandy’s, a childcare centre located in the Western Australian Wheatbelt town of Brookton, is the latest early childhood education and care (ECEC) service provider to join Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED).

REED is a new not-for-profit (NFP) cluster model of management, designed to provide support to ECEC services in the region, “reducing the burden” on local committees and shires whilst still providing the vital ECEC community services. 

Established in response to challenges identified by ECEC services in more than 20 communities across the Wheatbelt region, REED is both a NFP organisation and charity, and is governed by a voluntary board who engage with a management team in relation to the day to day functions of the organisation. 

The addition of Milly Molly Mandy’s follows on from childcare centres in Corrigin and Merredin, who joined REED in June and September 2019 respectively. 

Milly Molly Mandy’s has been in operation since 1997, and is a 19-place centre with 12 staff. After the move, the centre will be known as REED – Brookton. Current Chairperson Danielle Gault said Milly Molly Mandy’s was “so pleased” to join REED, having been involved with the project since its inception. 

“It’s exciting to see this project and the hard work of many individuals come to fruition,” Ms Gault said. 

The Shire of Brookton was instrumental in the development and creation of REED, commissioning a scoping project in 2014, and being the funding applicant for the project to develop and assess the feasibility of a new structural and governance model for community-based ECEC services in the Wheatbelt region.  

Through the Shire’s support, along with Milly Molly Mandy’s, the REED model was created and officially launched by State Minister Simone McGurk MLA (Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services) in Narrogin in March 2018.

REED is being funded by the WA Government and Lotterywest during the establishment phase. Its head office is in Narrogin, and it cluster manages servicing in south, east and west locations in the Wheatbelt. More services are expected to join REED in the coming months. 

More information about REED’s work may be found here.