New childcare options for Bourke

At the Bourke Childcare Centre – back l-r: Connected Beginnings Director Tanya Mitchell with Olivia Stephens, Childcare Director Ujjala Koundinya, and General Manager Prue Ritchie. Front: Maria Noye, Judd Milgate, Kendra Smith-Robins, Henry Lewis, and Jack Bloem. Photo TWH

Childcare options are on the increase in the Outback, with hopes this will help families to stay and settle.

The NSW government has announced that almost 200 additional childcare places will be created across far western New South Wales with priority given to Bourke, Cobar and Broken Hill – towns with some of the highest gaps in childcare services statewide.

Over the next 18 months, 40 additional childcare places will be created in Bourke, 102 in Cobar and 44 in Broken Hill.

Total funding of $5.6 million will be made available to successful service providers immediately.

A further $4.4 million will be made available to further expand childcare places across western New South Wales early next year.

Bourke & District Children’s Services will receive $1.85 million which will create 20 additional childcare places for children aged 0-3, and four full time jobs for the centre. There is also funding to build a new childcare room with three child accessible bathrooms and two craft sinks. To support staff recruitment and retention, relocation support will be offered to attract new staff and retention bonuses will be available to encourage long term service. […]

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