Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster today welcomed the allocation of an additional $2.6 million to support vital child care services in Mallee  and help meet the needs of local families.

Dr Webster said 14 services will receive funding through the Liberal National Government’s Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) which helps improve access to child care and increase workforce participation in remote, regional and disadvantaged communities.

“This funding will help local child care services improve access to quality care, particularly in more rural,  remote and disadvantaged parts of Mallee,” Dr Webster said.

“It will be good for our local kids, good for our hard-working families and ultimately for our community. It will also have a positive economic benefit by allowing more local parents to get back into work or to take on additional hours if they chose.

“The funds will support services in Horsham, Donald, Mildura, St Arnaud, Nhill, Dimboola, Birchip, Merbein and Warracknabeal that may need support to keep operating, or to fund capital projects to improve services and increase the number of places available.”

Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said more than 640 child care services around Australia would share in more than $100 million through the program.

“We are committed to giving every Australian family access to quality child care, regardless of where they live or their circumstances,” Minister Tudge said.

“In some remote areas, there may only be one or two child care services operating and it is critical we keep these open and help improve and expand facilities so more kids can attend.

“This program also helps services to run initiatives that reduce barriers which may otherwise prevent local kids from accessing care.

Minister for Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the CCCF would help ensure child care continued to be available for many families in Mallee

“These grants will have tangible benefits for child care providers that will flow to local children and their families,” Minister McKenzie said.

“It means more families in Mallee can take advantage of our Child Care Subsidy if they choose to work, learn or volunteer.”

Including today’s announcement, the Government has allocated more than $220 million to over 1,000 child care services through the Community Child Care Fund since 2018.

The Morrison Government is investing around $10 billion in child care this year to support around 1 million families. Our Budget delivered further support to reduce the out of pocket costs for parents with multiple children aged under six in care and a commitment to a $2 billion preschool funding agreement for access to early learning for all children in the year before school.

More information on the Community Child Care Fund can be found on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

SuburbProviderServiceFunding recommendedHORSHAMGreen Leaves (VIC2) Early Learning Centres Pty LtdGreen Leaves Early Learning Horsham$100,000MILDURAMildura Rural City CouncilMildura Family Day Care/zoe $182,000DONALDThe Young Men’s Christian Association of BallaratDonald Children’s Centre$100,000ST ARNAUDNorthern Grampians Shire CouncilSt Arnaud Early Learning Centre$200,000HORSHAMUniting (Victoria and Tasmania) LimitedWimmera Regional Family Day care$240,000NHILLHORSHAM & DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION INCNhill Early Learning Centre$129,000DIMBOOLAHORSHAM & DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION INCDimboola Early Learning Centre$150,000CABARITAThe Lake Primary SchoolThe Lake Primary School After School Care Service$30,120DONALDThe Young Men’s Christian Association of BallaratDonald Children’s Centre$240,000BIRCHIPThe Young Men’s Christian Association of BallaratBirchip Early Learning Centre$350,000MERBEINMerbein P-10 CollegeMerbein P-10 College OSHC$37,000WARRACKNABEALUniting (Victoria and Tasmania) LimitedWarracknabeal Child Care Centre$360,000MILDURAMildura Rural City CouncilPlayalong Early Learning Centre$400,000MILDURAMildura Rural City CouncilMildura Family Day Care$240,000