The Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) has welcomed this morning’s election commitment from the State Government which will seek to take financial pressure off struggling WA households.

WA Labor has said it would introduce free full-time kindergarten for four-year-olds and expand the number of WA primary schools where parents have access to before and after-school care if re-elected, which would save WA families childcare costs and free up both parents to return to the workforce sooner after starting a family.

Grants of up to $25,000 will be made available for out-of-school-hours care and long daycare providers to attract, retain and support workers with subsidised housing, relocation packages, training and other measures.

They have also committed to supporting the establishment of a dedicated Office of Early Childhood Education in WA, an initiative that WACOSS has been advocating for over several years.

This follows yesterday’s commitment by a re-elected WA Labor Government to expanding the School Breakfast Program, which was a key ask in WACOSS’ Make WA Fair election campaign.

WACOSS Chief Executive Officer Louise Giolitto said:

“We have been strongly encouraging government to make meaningful, targeted cost of living decisions that prioritise those in our community doing it toughest, and what we’re seeing today is exactly that.

“Having access to childcare and after-school care provides security and consistency for kids, it keeps them safe, and it helps parents too.

“We know that women still take the primary responsibility for childcare, so these measures will greatly assist their capacity to continue working while their children are looked after.

“It is especially pleasing to see regional WA being included in the initial kindy rollout and the subsidies to attract staff.

“Measures that help struggling WA families put food in the mouths of their children, keep them in school, free up the tight budgets and allow parents to maintain their employment are exactly what’s needed right now.

“WACOSS has also been advocating for the establishment of a dedicated Office of Early Childhood Education in WA for many years now; this decision is a massive step forward for the sector.

“We thank the State Government for placing the needs of those doing it toughest at the top of the priority list.”

Find out more about our Make WA Fair Campaign here.

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