THE HON DR ANNE ALY MP

Minister for Early Childhood Education

Member for Youth

The Albanese Government are ensuring more First Nations children will be able to access early childhood education and care in remote communities.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today announced four new community-run early childhood education and care services.

“Every child should be able to access quality early childhood education and care, no matter where they live,” Dr Aly said.

“When children access quality early learning they do better throughout life, from better health outcomes, improved school readiness and higher paying jobs later in life.

"With quality early childhood education and care we have the ability to change the trajectory of a child’s life, helping to Close the Gap for First Nations Children.”

The sites will be run by First Nations led organisations in the following locations:

• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs, NT
• Central Desert Regional Council in Ti Tree, NT
• Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Corporation in Geraldton, WA
• Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council in Kowanyama, QLD

The four new sites are in addition to four sites announced in April. Once all eight services are established, they will be providing access to vital quality early childhood education and care for more than 300 children per year.

SNAICC, the national peak body for Indigenous children, will be the community partner for the new services – supporting their establishment and the implementation of community-led and culturally safe early childhood education and care.

The new services are part of the $575 million Community Child Care Fund, helping 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.

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