SYPCCC officially opens, adding 120 additional places to the Southern Yorke Peninsula

The Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Childcare Centre (SYPCCC) was officially opened at the end of August, adding an additional 120 early childhood education and care (ECEC) places to the region, a significant boost from the previous number of 14. 

80 places are available at the SYPCCC, trading as Minlaton Family Centre, and 40 are at the Maitland Family Centre, which was also opened as part of the project.

Both services are owned by Yorke Peninsula Council and operated by Yorke Peninsula Learning and Care (YPLC), collectively employing around 50 people, more than 30 of whom are studying early childhood education. 

The significant boost in ECEC has allowed a number of parents in the region to return to work or to increase their hours, relieving the pressure on grandparents and other carers. 

Over time it is anticipated that the significant increase in ECEC numbers will improve the appeal of the region to young families. 

Local mothers Katie Hughes, Anna Phasey and Amy Honner are the advocates behind the creation of SYPCCC, having conducted a community survey, needs analysis and project plan , all of which illustrated “the desperate lack of child care” and the associated impacts on the community. 

This work supported the council to gain $2.25 million through the Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Fund. A dual tender process then secured SYPCCC builder Romaldi Construction and operator YPLC.

As construction at Minlaton got underway, council and YPLC worked to renovate and reopen what is now the Maitland Family Centre, local news source Yorke Peninsula Country Times shared. 

The development of a partnership with ELC training has allowed staff at Maitland to study formal early childhood education qualifications, so the region will, in time, have enough qualified childcare staff. 

Minlaton Family Centre opened for term 3, 2024, and has operated successfully since day one.

“We are incredibly proud to have brought two fantastic childcare centres to Yorke Peninsula,” Mayor Darren Braund shared with The Times.

“Thank you to everyone involved, from the amazing parents who advocated for child care, through to the project management team led by CEO Andrew Cameron, and of course Yorke Peninsula Learning and Care.”

“We encourage anyone who could use the service, or who wants to find out more, to contact YPLC.”

Learn more about YPLC here. For the original coverage of this story please see here. Image source: Yorke Peninsula Learning & Care Facebook.