Major milestone reached in delivery of Early Learning and Family Centre in Derby 

A major milestone in the delivery of an Early Learning and Family Centre in Derby, Western Australia has been reached, with the awarding of a $261,832 grant to the Ngunga Group Women’s Aboriginal Corporation.

The grant will allow the Corporation to deliver the first phase of establishing an Early Learning and Family Centre and will deliver a project definition plan for development of the centre, which will provide culturally secure early learning. 

Funding has come jointly from the WA Government and the Minderoo Foundation under the Early Years Partnership, as part of the 2024-25 State Budget.

The Early Years Partnership aims to improve the development, health and learning outcomes of children aged 0-4 years across its partner communities of Derby (including Mowanjum and Pandanus Park), Armadale West, Central Great Southern, and Bidyadanga.

The partnership received a funding uplift of $34.6 million in the 2024-2025 State Budget to ensure continued investment in the critical stages of child development.

The centre is one of 24 priority projects funded through the Early Years Partnership, which is a collaboration between the State Government, Minderoo Foundation, and The Kids Research Institute Australia.

“This is another fantastic example of what can be achieved through the Early Years Partnership, which is about enabling communities to lead their own development based on their unique needs,” Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton said.

This project was initiated thanks to the co-designed Community Plan, Wirriya Dunyji Ooba Babanil Ingun – Happy Strong Small Children, which identified the need for culturally safe early learning opportunities for families in Derby, Mowanjum and Pandanus Park.

As part of the 2024-25 State Budget, $8.3 million was committed towards establishing the centre, with Minderoo Foundation contributing a significant $2.2 million towards the project.

“I want to thank the Minderoo Foundation for their contribution to this important project that will support children and families in Derby,” the Minister said.