WA Government gives $250,000 in regional childcare grants to attract staff

The Western Australian Government has made $250,000 in funding available to help attract childhood educators to regional WA through initiatives such as subsidised accommodation, relocation costs, and further training. 

“Regional WA has many small, volunteer-managed early childhood education and care (ECEC) services that face unique challenges in attracting and retaining suitably qualified staff,” explained Community Services Minister Simone McGurk. 

“Retaining and attracting quality early childhood educators has a huge benefit for regional towns – it allows parents to return to work and is so important for children’s socialisation. I would encourage regional local governments trying to attract staff to apply.”

Open until 1 February 2023, the grants follow a successful take-up of the Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program in 2021-22. The State Government is running the program again in 2022-23.

In 2021-22, 14 initiatives were funded, including:

• subsidised local accommodation in the Shire of Mingenew;
• financial support for formal training and professional development in the Shire of Dardanup; and,
• a recruitment drive targeting school leavers and qualified educators in the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu.

Under the program, funding of up to $25,000 is available for individual local government authorities to deliver a range of initiatives to attract and retain childcare workers, including subsidised accommodation, relocation costs, and professional development for existing staff.

Local government authorities are encouraged to work in partnership with local ECEC services to develop projects and apply for funding. Applications must be lodged by the local government authority.

Applications for the Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program are now open and close on Wednesday, 1 February 2023. A webinar will be held on Monday, 5 December to support prospective applicants.