Aidan Curtis
KINGSTON SE is one step closer to improving its access to childcare and early learning services following a significant funding announcement from the State Government.
The State Government has set aside $3.5 million in the next budget for a new early learning service in Kingston.
Coupled with $1.8 million in Federal Government funding allocated to the project in October, the latest announcement has bought Kingston’s childcare goals one step closer to reality.
Kingston Early Learning and Childcare Services (KELCS) working group chair Kirsty Starling received the news from Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer on Monday, May 1.
Ms Starling said she was “overjoyed and completely overwhelmed” by the news.
“The feeling around Kingston is sheer excitement that this issue which has been longstanding for close to 40 years is actually going to be addressed and we’re going to have an amazing facility,” she said.
“We really hope it’s going to attract families that want to move to Kingston and be part of this amazing community.”
Ms Starling said there was still plenty of work to do on the project.
“The next steps really are that the Kingston District Council is going to be partnering with State and Federal Government to deliver this project,” she said.
“Then we need to get working plans and designs done so it can progress forward and start the build.”
Kingston District Council chief executive and KELCS working group member Nat Traeger said it was great to see the group’s efforts paying off.
“I have been extraordinarily privileged to be on a motivational journey with some inspiring and fiercely determined women, who have stayed the course long after their own children no longer required childcare services,” she said.
“We are now turning our attention to the next stage of the project, which will include, in partnership with [Department for Education], detailed designs, architectural plans and seeking submissions to undertake the building works.”
Mr Boyer said he was pleased the State Government was able to support the project and thanked the KELCS working group for their “tireless advocacy”.
“I visited Kingston last year and met with the working group and saw first-hand the issues the community are facing,” Mr Boyer said.
“Availability and accessibility for regional childcare is becoming more of an issue across the country and its important that all levels of government, including Federal, State and local – as well as local members – work together to ensure a positive outcome.”
Ms Starling thanked everyone that has been involved in the project, from members of working group and the Kingston community to Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and Member for Barker Tony Pasin.
“We’re overjoyed that it has been a team effort and everyone has collaborated and we’re going to get a great outcome,” she said.
“Nick McBride and Tony Pasin have played a huge role in getting this outcome for us because they’ve been advocating in Canberra and in Adelaide respectively – without their input, this would never have come to fruition.
“I’d just like to say thank you to everyone for supporting it.”
