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Tasmanian Government announces next phase of Working Together
Freya Lucas
Feb 06, 2024
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The Tasmanian Government has announced the next phase of its early learning program - Working Together - which will see up to 220 places made available across 43 partner early childhood education and care (ECEC) Tasmanian services.
New service areas include Break O’Day, Circular Head, Clarence, Dorset, George Town, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Meander Valley, North and South Midlands, Sorell and West Tamar.“This successful initiative is already delivering services in 19 ECEC services across the State, supporting 120 eligible three-year-olds each year to access funded education and care in the year before Kindergarten,” Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch said.
The expansion will see an additional 100 funded places being offered in current and new service areas in 2024, allowing more children to participate in early learning.
“Working Together has helped my son in so many ways,” a parent using the program said.
“It’s created a routine for him. It’s helped me access so many other help and support systems for him. Since beginning Kindergarten, he has completely flourished in all aspects, going from non-verbal to now an absolute chatterbox who loves so many new and different things.”
“The help that we have received from Working Together has been absolutely phenomenal in the realms of showing us what avenues are out there. Whether you need the help or not, it's there and you’re able to access it.”
Mick Clark, Devonport Child Care Centres’ Executive Director, shared that Malangenna Children’s Centre has been delivering the Working Together program since 2019.
“Our staff work closely with the families that are part of Working Together, providing them with support every step of the way along their child’s early childhood education and care pathway,” he explained.
“The opportunity to engage in child care is life changing for participating families and gives children the chance to learn, make friends, build their confidence and transition to Kindergarten.”
Since the inception of the pilot program in 2019, Working Together has enabled over 500 children to access early learning.
More information about the Working Together program can be found here, including a video featuring parents of children who are participating in the program at a centre in Tasmania’s south.
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