Pindan Childcare Centre to bring essential ECEC services to the East Kimberley

Freya Lucas

Apr 22, 2024

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Wunan Foundation and MG Corporation (Miriuwing Gajerrong Corporation) have entered into a memorandum of understanding delivering essential services in the East Kimberley, including provision for early childhood education and care (ECEC).

To be funded by the Community Child Care Fund Restricted (CCCFR) Expansion (Closing the Gap) program, initiated by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the Pindan Childcare Centre will commence operation in late-2024.

Wunan Foundation, in collaboration with One Tree Community Services, will oversee childcare services, while MG Corporation, owners of the site, will undertake construction.

The strategic alliance aims to "maximise opportunities and drive positive social, economic, and cultural impacts, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for all Aboriginal peoples in the region", the organisations said this week.

The two Aboriginal community-controlled organisations currently provide social services and leverage economic opportunities to enhance the lives of Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley.

"This is a vital service that must meet the needs of children and families, while working with related service providers,” Wunan Foundation chairperson Ian Trust shared with the National Indigenous Times.

"Our collaboration ensures culturally sensitive and impactful outcomes," he said.

Along with the ECEC service the Wunan Foundation and MG Corporation will revitalise the Kununurra Hostel, a 42-bed facility originally constructed in 2010 for remote Indigenous students.

Following over 12 months of negotiations, the hostel has been repurposed to accommodate a broader range of Indigenous services and programs, supporting Indigenous youth in the community.

To read the original coverage of this story please see here.

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