Ararat 800 OSCH and Vacation Care has become one of eleven child care services in the Wannon region to receive a federal funding boost it has been announced.
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Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan announced the Ararat 800 OSCH and Vacation care will receive $240,000, with $120,000 set aside for a community element and $120,000 allocated for a sustainability element.
Grampians OSHC program director and OSHC Xplor support Elvie Jenkins said the funding will help the community group deliver their services over the next few years.
"The Y Ballarat was successful in receiving a Sustainability Support Grant through the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) grants program," she said.
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"These funds are provided to the Y over the next three years as the approved provider of the Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program at Ararat 800 Primary School.
"At the centre of the application were three key elements. Firstly, to support local primary schools who choose to provide a transport option to families by providing the staff to suitably staff the high-risk activity, as well as to develop an educator attraction and retention program.
"Finally, to develop a career pathway that links Universities and TAFEs to members of the Ararat community, who can access low-no cost tertiary education in the early years sector without the added pressure of needing to relocate or travel extensively.
"Our aim is to be able to provide families who need access to education and care for their primary school-aged children with a reasonably priced model that will be sustained through strategic investment in our staff and community."
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Overall 11 services will receive an additional $1.18 million via the federal government's Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) which helps improve access to child care and increase workforce participation in remote, regional and disadvantaged communities.
"Access to high quality child care is vital to our society and the Morrison Government is investing in programs to improve capacity and services at facilities, allowing more families to be supported," said Mr Tehan.
Minister for Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the CCCF would help ensure child care continued to be available for many families in Wannon.
"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 Wannon can take advantage of our Child Care Subsidy if they choose to work, learn or volunteer."
Including the announcement, the government has allocated more than $220 million to over 1,000 child care services through the Community Child Care Fund since 2018.
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