Child care providers in Morwell are being encouraged to apply for government funding to address the barriers preventing disadvantaged and vulnerable families accessing early learning services.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said applications for the Federal Government’s new $124 million Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) opened today and listed Morwell as a priority area.
“The Community Child Care Fund includes an open competitive grant round to provide additional support to child care centres located in priority areas such as Morwell,” Mr Chester said.
“Morwell is the only Gippsland location that has been identified as a priority area.
“I encourage all child care providers in Morwell to review the program guidelines and explore ways this funding can help improve child care access for local families.”
The Community Child Care Fund is designed to improve child care participation and increase the availability of places, particularly in disadvantaged regional or remote communities.
It will assist child care services that may be experiencing financial viability issues. Child care services in areas of high, unmet demand can also apply for help to enable them to increase the number of child care places they can offer.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham released the program guidelines for the CCCF earlier this month, giving child care providers additional time to prepare for the opening of the grant round.
Applications for the open competitive grant round close on October 5.
For more information, visit www.education.gov.au/community-child-care-fund-0.