New community-run early learning service opens in Kununurra

A new early childhood education and care (ECEC) service has officially opened in Kununurra, offering children in remote Western Australia access to high-quality, culturally safe early education.

The One Tree Wunan Garndim-banjelng Badang Yarrawoo Menewoolbtha Children’s Service will provide places for up to 38 local children. Its name, meaning “Growing Strong Roots for Strong Futures”, emerged from community consultation and reflects the role of early education in setting children up for lifelong success.

The new service was made possible through more than two years of collaboration, led by the Wunan Foundation and One Tree Community Services, with support from the Department of Education and SNAICC, National Voice for our Children.

The establishment of Garndim-banjelng is part of the Australian Government’s $30 million expansion of the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) Restricted Program, which supports services run predominantly by First Nations-led organisations.

Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh, said the opening represented a major milestone for children and families in Kununurra.

“Every child should benefit from access to quality and culturally safe early childhood education and care. The teams at Wunan Foundation and One Tree have been working tirelessly since 2022 to establish this important service, and its opening is a great achievement for the whole community.”

She added that over the next four years, the Albanese Government will invest $500 million to expand access to ECEC in regional and remote communities.

The initiative also reflects the Government’s commitment to the Closing the Gap National Agreement, particularly in increasing the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in service delivery.

SNAICC, the national peak body for Indigenous children, is playing a critical role as the community partner, ensuring services are both culturally safe and community-led.

Western Australian Senator Glenn Sterle praised the work of the Wunan Foundation and One Tree in bringing the project to life.

“Ian Trust and his staff work tirelessly for the betterment of their communities, and the opening of this Children’s Service is testament to their hard work, dedication and commitment,” Senator Sterle said.

He added that he looks forward to visiting the service on his next trip to Kununurra.

The opening of Garndim-banjelng marks not only the beginning of a new service but also a step forward in ensuring that children in remote communities can access the same quality of care and education as those in metropolitan areas.

Read the full media release here.