The State Government has committed $1 million towards retaining early childhood education and care workers in regional Western Australia through the establishment of a capped grant fund ($250,000 per annum) to local governments in regional areas to fund retention and attraction workforce packages.
Funding of up to $25,000 is available for Local Government Authorities to deliver a range of activities including:
- subsidised accommodation/housing
- intrastate travel relevant to the project
- relocation packages
- training and professional development
- support for educators to complete their practicums (including wages for relief staff)
- purchase of small capital items to support online learning
- workshops, seminars and talks to recruit prospective educators.
Partnerships with more than one Local Government Authority may apply for a greater amount of funding commensurate to the number of Local Government Authorities and the regional coverage.
Details
- Status: Closed
- Amount: Grants up to $25,000
- Open date: 28/11/2022
- Close date: 01/02/2023
- Contact email: grants@communities.wa.gov.au
2023 recipients
| Local Government | Program Name | Amount Funded | Region |
| Shire of Ravensthorpe | Ravensthorpe Childcare Workers Professional Development | $22,399 | Goldfields-Esperance |
| Shire of Lake Grace | Support Gnowangerup Family Support Association in their delivery of childcare service at Newdegate | $25,000 | Great Southern |
| Shire of Gnowangerup | Travel Subsidy to Support Educators | $32,130 | Great Southern |
| Shire of Shark Bay | Subsidised accommodation for remote area, in venue Family Day Care Educators | $25,000 | Gascoyne |
| Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley | Childcare worker housing support | $36,000 | Kimberley |
| Shire of Carnarvon | Advancing Early Year Futures Stage 2 Project | $25,000 | Gascoyne |
| Shire of Kent | Central Great Southern Early Childhood Education and Care Conference 2023 | $10,000 | Great Southern |
| Town of Port Hedland | Town of Port Hedland - Community Childcare Grants Program | $25,000 | Pilbara |
