Ground is broken on Parndana Community Children’s Centre

Residents of Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, will soon have more options for early childhood education and care (ECEC) following the commencement of work for the Parndana Community Children’s Centre on Monday, 24 October 2022.

Ground was officially broken at the site with members of the centre’s governing council joining representatives from the GT Building Group that will build the centre. The governing council received $1.8 million from the Local Economic Recovery program to build the service on land adjacent to Parndana school campus.

The need for ECEC has only increased in the area following the catastrophic fires which ripped across the island in 2019/20, with Governing Council chairperson, Stephanie Wurst, saying it was rewarding to see the diligence of the council result in the build finally commencing. 

“Building costs have substantially increased over the last two years,” she explained, “and the committee have been working very hard to fundraise and obtain additional funds toward the centre and build.”

Recently the service was successful in obtaining $20,000 towards play equipment for its outdoor learning environment through the Strengthening Community Wellbeing after Bushfires Grant Program.

“We want to create a fun, safe and inclusive play space for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy,” Ms Wurst said.

“We can’t wait to open the centre in 2023 and provide this much needed service for our children, families and the Kangaroo Island community.”

To follow the progress of the build, please use the Facebook page Parndana Community Children’s Centre.For local coverage of this story please see here.