By Jess Baker
Two Stanthorpe childcare services will benefit from a multi-million dollar investment by the federal government.
Member for Maranoa David Littleproud recently announced an additional $5.28 million would be distributed to 23 services across the electorate under round three of the Australian government’s Community Child Care Fund.
The fund was designed to improve access to child care for working families in remote, regional and disadvantaged communities.
Stanthorpe child care services Milestones Early Learning and Aussie Kindies Early Learning are among eight Southern Downs services set to benefit from the funding.
Mr Littleproud said the funding would help local child care services improve access to quality care.
“It will be good for our local kids, good for our hard-working families and ultimately for our community,” he said.
“It will also have a positive economic benefit by allowing more local parents to get back into work or to take on additional hours if they choose.”
“The funds will support services across Maranoa that may need support to keep operating, or to fund capital projects to improve services and increase the number of places available.
“In some remote areas, there may only be one or two child care services operating, so it is critical we keep these open and help improve and expand facilities so more kids can attend.“
Neither Aussie Kindies nor Milestones could confirm how much funding they received, or what it would be used for, but those details are expected to come to light in the coming weeks.
Other child care centres in the Southern Downs that received funding included Free Range Kids Wallangarra, Wheatvale Outside Hours School Care, PCYC Goondiwindi SS Outside Hours Care, Wrigglers and Gigglers Child Care Centre in Texas, and Inglewood Childcare and Kindergarten.
More than 640 child care services will receive a share of about $100 million in funding through the latest round of the Community Child Care Fund.
