Tasmanian Working Together locations revealed for free preschool

Following a successful pilot, the ‘Working Together’ program will see up to 400 hours of free preschool delivered to eligible children from 20 Tasmanian early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres from next year. 

 

Describing the results of the pilot as having seen “incredible results for the participating children and their families,” the announcement comes in the wake of the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to “break down barriers to participation and lift education outcomes in the State,” Tasmanian Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.

 

Through the initiative, 120 places will be made available for eligible children in 2020, with a further 120 places opening up in 2021.

 

An expressions of interest (EOI) process identified the 20 childhood education services to deliver the program, with final selection of service partners based on key criteria, including proximity of the service to children most in need, capacity for Working Together places and quality of service based on the National Quality Standard Quality Areas.

 

“Working Together has demonstrated the possibilities when barriers to participation are removed and opportunities are created for children to learn, make friends and build confidence,” Mr Rockliff noted. 

 

The successful locations include:

* 1912 Child Care and Early Learning Centre, Devonport

* Malangenna Children’s Centre, Devonport

* Miandetta Children’s Centre, Devonport

* A co-located service known as ‘Drew St’, East Devonport

* Discovery Early Learning Centre, Ravenswood

* Lady Gowrie – Alanvale Child Centre, Newnham

* Glen Dhu Children’s Services, Glen Dhu (servicing Invermay)

* Footprints Educational Complex, Burnie

* Discovery Early Learning Centre – Alexander Beetle House, Burnie

* North West Tasmania Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre, Burnie

* Bagdad Education and Care, Bagdad (servicing Brighton)

* Discovery Early Learning Centre – Gunn Street, Bridgewater

* Goodstart Early Learning, Glenorchy

* Child Care Connections – Benjafield, Moonah

* Child Care Connections, Berridale

* Goodstart Early Learning, Claremont

* CatholicCare Children’s Services, New Town (servicing Moonah)

* Discovery Early Learning Centre – Illara Preschool, Glenorchy

* Adventure Patch – Ocean View Child Care Centre, Blackmans Bay

* Goodstart Early Learning Blackmans Bay

 

More information about the Working Together initiative is available here.