Ooranga Family Resource Mobile Unit gets preschool service running in Baan Baa

Children and families in the regional community of Baan Baa, New South Wales, will have access to early learning close to home thanks to the efforts of the Ooranga Family Resource Mobile Unit (FMRU). 

The advent of the early learning service for three to five year olds is a first for the town, and has generated significant excitement in the community. 

The Baan Baa Preschool will be the only dedicated early childhood education provider servicing Baan Baa itself, and an additional service to bolster limited existing services in nearby Boggabri and Narrabri. It will also complement Ooranga’s current playgroup service which operates fortnightly and welcomes children of all ages.

“We are so thrilled to be able to access quality early childhood education on our doorstep,” preschool parent and Ooranga Committee member, Ellen McClung said. 

“It’s a real coup that our kids are able to grow and learn in their own community, making use of existing infrastructure and fostering a sense of community for Baan Baa as a whole.”

The Baan Baa Preschool is now open and operating every Tuesday and Wednesday at the Baan Baa Community Hall, offering 18 licensed places. Eligible families can access the program free of charge.

Ooranga, a not-for-profit organisation, has been delivering quality early childhood services for 46 years. 

The organisation has a strong focus on supporting rural and remote communities where no other early childhood providers exist, ensuring that children in regional areas receive the same chances as their urban counterparts.

The launch of the Baan Baa Preschool reflects Ooranga’s ongoing mission to meet the increasing demand for rural early childhood education services. Currently, Ooranga operates seven preschools across the Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah and Narrabri Local Government Areas. Of these, all but one are projected to be operating at capacity in 2025.

“By prioritising children in the two years before they start school, Ooranga’s preschool services aim to give young learners a strong foundation for future education success,” Georgina Simson, President of Ooranga FMRU said.

“In the past two years, we have seen a huge increase in demand for these services,” she continued.

“As a result, we have plans to open two more preschool venues by 2026 to further support the delivery of early childhood education across our operating region.”

For more information, visit www.ooranga.com.au.

Image shows: Leanne Pryor, Director at Ooranga FMRU with Lewis Hosking, Amelia Charters, Isaac Charters and Harley Hobden at Baan Baa Preschool.