70 New child care places for remote NT communities

More than $852,000 will be spent expanding existing children’s services in remote areas of Central Australia, Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony, announced today.

“Remote Aboriginal communities will benefit from an additional 70 child care places,” Mr Anthony said.

“Warlpiri Kurdu Kurdu Kurlangu, an innovative children’s service at Yuendumu in the Tanami Desert, was the first service to operate on a remote Aboriginal community. The Yuendumu community will receive $121,800 in capital funding and recurrent funding of $50,800 a year, for an additional 10 child care places.

“Walta Tjutangka Palyapayi, a mobile Aboriginal child and family service, based in Alice Springs will receive $730,800 capital and recurrent funding of $304,800 for an additional 60 new child care places. This will support the development of a number of innovative children’s services in Central Australia.”

Mr Anthony said it was essential these services were expanded as they had already improved the health and educational outcomes for children and increased work opportunities for parents.

“The Federal Government is committed to meeting the needs of Aboriginal families unable to access conventional child care services,” Mr Anthony said.

“This funding will allow these innovative child care services to continue to be expanded and developed to meet the needs of Aboriginal families living in remote communities in the Northern Territory.”