Pilbara DAMA boosts ECEC workforce

The Pilbara Designated Area Management Agreement (DAMA) has seen a significant increase in the number of early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals in the remote West Australian region, helping to increase availability and alleviate the demand for care. 

Approved in 2022 as a  partnership between the City of Karratha, Town of Port Hedland and Regional Development Australia Pilbara, the DAMA has seen One Tree Community Services able to offer skilled employment visas to 14 staff, representing an average of 105 full-time early education places accessible to families across the Pilbara region.

The DAMA, City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott said, has allowed early learning providers in the region to expand their number of licenced places, no small achievement at a time when there is “a nationwide staffing crisis.”

“This enables local businesses to offer long-term employment to skilled overseas workers and build service capacity in our City,” he said.

The DAMA is part of a concerted effort to attract and retain ECEC staff to the region, with an Onslow partnership between One Tree Community Services and the town’s chamber of commerce and industry offering educators a $500 weekly living allowance, two return flights to Perth each year and a $3000 retention bonus after 12 months.

Karratha City has also partnered with industry to deliver key service worker accommodation which ECEC employees can utilise.

Access local coverage of this story here.