More than $16m in funding announced to establish ECEC services in regional areas

The Australian Government will invest more than $16 million to help establish new early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in regional communities that currently have limited or no services operating in their area, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly announced yesterday. 

Around 50 new ECEC services will be constructed with the Limited Supply Grant funding, as well as supporting providers to ensure they can operate sustainably while helping to engage local workforces. 

“We know the first five years shape a child’s life, with quality early childhood education and care setting children up to succeed at school, in higher education and throughout their lives,” said Dr Aly.

“These exciting new services will also give local families the ability to choose when it comes to increasing hours for work or returning to work or education.”

The new services are part of the $575 million Community Child Care Fund, helping to address barriers to participation in early childhood education by helping much needed services open and stay open in communities across Australia.

The program currently funds over 900 services, with around 60 per cent of funding supporting services located in regional and remote communities.

For further information on the new ECEC services, please see here.