Grant will help to create educator support program in Kununurra and alleviate shortages

Kununurra-based Ewin Early Learning Centre is one of six organisations in Western Australia’s Kimberley region which will benefit from a Regional Economic Development (RED) grant to help build regional business resilience and prosperity.

 

The service will use its $130,000 grant to establish an educator support training program in Kununurra, via the employment of a trainer/mentor to support trainees in a bid to address the shortage of early childhood educators in the East Kimberley.

 

One Tree Community Services Inc. will also receive a $130,000 grant which will be used to provide on-site mentoring through the Early Childhood Training and Development Pathway program in Derby.

 

The RED Grants program is investing $50.85 million over nine years toward locally driven projects to stimulate economic growth in the regions.

 

Other successful applicants include: 

 

• A $120,000 grant which will support Marine Biomedical Pty Ltd, an innovative medical biotech company utilising Broome’s pearling industry by-product, to purchase high-tech analysis equipment used in the production of their world-leading orthopaedic bone substitute product PearlBoneTM.

 

• Yawuru Jarndu Aboriginal Corporation has been awarded a $140,000 grant to develop the Kimberley Fashion Industry Development Program, which builds on the successful SKUTTA Indigenous Fashion Showcase. The funding will be used to implement workshops and network development within the Indigenous fashion sector, to find effective pathways for interstate and international manufacturing partnerships.

 

• Goolarri Media Enterprises Pty Ltd will receive $40,000 to deliver workshops and masterclasses alongside the CinefestOz First Nations’ film showcase in Broome.

 

• Wawili Sound Solutions Pty Ltd will receive $32,066 to expand the facilities and capabilities of Australia’s only Indigenous sound production facility, presenting opportunities to increase film services offered in the Kimberley.

 

“Addressing the current childcare (sic.) constraints in our regions is an ambition of the Cook Government,” said Regional Development Minister Don Punch.

 

“The initiatives supported this year are designed to deliver timely, effective support, and help alleviate the pressure on families and childcare professionals.”