People power helps secure funds for new kindies in Barcaldine and Blackall

Published Wednesday, 22 April, 2015 at 04:11 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones

A local community campaign for better childcare facilities has seen $3.2 million allocated for new services in Barcaldine and Blackall.

Education Minister Kate Jones announced the multi-agency funding to build two new integrated early childhood education and care centres while in Barcaldine today.

Minister Jones said the Queensland Government had committed $2 million, supported by additional funding from the Australian Government and the Barcaldine and Blackall-Tambo Regional Councils to deliver both new centres.

“Central West Queensland parents have been campaigning, planning and fundraising for these new services for more than two decades,” she said.

“Nothing speaks to a need in the community like people power and that’s why I’m pleased that government agencies have been able to come together to fund these crucial new childcare facilities.

“The services will be constructed at Barcaldine P-12 State School and Blackall State School.”

Ms Jones said the services would include a mix of childcare, kindergarten and outside school hours care.

“We also want to encourage partnerships with other child and family support services, including child and maternal health services,” she said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering affordable child and education services to support families wherever they live.”

Ms Jones said kindy was also an important part of children’s success at school.

“We know that children who attend 15 hours of quality early education in the year before school achieve higher results across all areas of Year Three NAPLAN – numeracy, reading, spelling, writing, and grammar and punctuation,” she said.

“We also know that affordable childcare is essential for families struggling to meet rising cost of living pressures.”

Ms Jones said existing kindergarten and limited-hours care services in Barcaldine and Blackall would transition to the new facilities.

“I want to thank Barcaldine Regional Council and Blackall-Tambo Regional Council for their important partnership with the Queensland Government as we deliver these two new facilities for Central West Queensland,” she said.

Ms Jones said design and consultation was currently underway with construction expected to be completed in December.

Media contact: Emma Smith (Minister Jones’ Office) 0417 405 879