MEDIA RELEASE
THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR
The Albanese Labor Government is ensuring local early childhood education and care services that receive funding through the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) have the business support and advice they need to stay open.
The CCCF helps to establish much-needed early childhood education and care services in disadvantaged communities to ensure Australian children have access to the transformational benefits of early years learning no matter where they live.
As part of this, the $1.1 million Business Support Program will help CCCF supported services, including those in regional areas, and those with higher rates of First Nations children in care, by assisting them to become more financially viable and sustainable.
In Ipswich, the St Ann’s Kindergarten and Outside School Hours Care (OHSC) service in Redbank Plains, and the Immaculate Heart Combined OSHC service in Leichhardt currently receive funding through the CCCF and will be able to receive additional support under the Business Support Program.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the Albanese Government was ensuring families can access quality early years education regardless of where they live in Australia.
“The Business Support Program is the latest in a range of a targeted initiatives making it easier to operate early learning services in communities with a limited supply.
“The program will enable these vital services in Ipswich to make informed business decisions and implement fit for purpose business practices to improve their viability,” Mr Neumann said.
Business advisors will support early childhood education services by helping identify and provide advice on ways to transition to more sustainable business or service delivery models.
Through the CCCF program, the Government helps early learning services address barriers to participation in early childhood education and care.
The CCCF provides a range of grants for child care services that meet eligibility criteria and apply, including special circumstances grants, disadvantaged and vulnerable communities grants, and business support.
The $575 million CCCF program supports around 900 services across Australia, with around 60 per cent of this funding supporting services in regional and remote communities.
For more information on the CCCF, visit https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/community-child-care-fund
