Government announces additional support for regional, rural and remote ECEC

An additional $6.1 million has been provided to support the viability of 84 childcare services in regional, rural and remote communities, Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced this morning.

“Families that live in regional, rural and remote communities should have access to high-quality, affordable child care,” Mr Tehan said in making the announcement, adding that the Government recognised that families that lived outside the capital cities also needed child care services.

“The Government continues to work with providers during the pandemic to monitor attendance, encourage services to work with local parents to ensure they’re receiving the Child Care Subsidy support they are entitled to, and work to improve cultural competence and safety,” he added.

Mr Tehan said that “around half” of the children attending ECEC services are Indigenous “so this funding will support Australia to achieve its Closing the Gap targets through increasing participation of Indigenous children in early childhood education and care.”

The funding is being provided through the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) restricted non-competitive grant opportunity. More information can be found on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.