West Dubbo Preschool gets grant to support Aboriginal children’s learning

Aboriginal children and families in the Dubbo region of New South Wales will have additional support to participate in 600 hours of early childhood education in the two years prior to school thanks to a $10,000 Early Childhood Learning grant. 

The grant will support Aboriginal children at the service as well as facilitating staff development.

“We know that the first 2000 days of life are the most crucial, and access to quality early education in the years before school gives kids the best possible foundation,” Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said. 

“The staff at West Dubbo Preschool are incredibly passionate about supporting all the children at the centre, and it’s great to be able to support them in their professional development,” he told local paper The Daily Liberal. 

Outreach will be provided through the funding to help Aboriginal and low income families to engage with the service. 

Preschool director Cathryn Albert hopes to use the funding to support access to specialist professionals, as well as to add Aboriginal resources to the playground and front entrance area. 

“Aboriginal artist Tim Naden from Goanna Woodworks will be working with the preschool to bring the visions of the service to life, Ms Albert said.

“The children and staff are so excited to see the changes the funding will bring, and the staff look forward to building on the knowledge they have.”

To access the original coverage of this story, please see here. Image credit: ACECQA