Kingston South East gets boost in ECEC availability after 40-year fight

After decades of lobbying and advocacy, residents of the coastal South Australian community of Kingston South East will have a new early childhood education and care (ECEC) service thanks to a Federal Government commitment of $1.8 million. 

With 41 children already on the waiting list, and with matched funding of $1.8 million secured by the South Australian Government, the community was anxious to see the promised funding from the Federal Government, which was confirmed in its recent budget. 

“The people of Kingston can breathe a sigh of relief that the money is in there. It’s in the budget for them,” said Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly.

Speaking with the ABC, Chair of the Kingston Early Learning and Childcare Services Working Group Kirsty Starling said she was “very excited” by the news.

“It’s life-changing for us,” she said. “[I’m] just ecstatic — very, very excited for our community.”

Ms Starling shared the extensive lobbying that the community has undertaken in relation to the service, saying “for us to finally get something off the ground, it will be just amazing for our community to have this project start and have an opportunity for working parents and people to study.”

Dr Aly was unable to comment on the time frame for delivering the funding, saying the Government would work with the local council and with the state government to progress the build. 

To access the original coverage of this story, please see here.