Childcare in Parkes will be streamlined with a new integrated facility offering different services all under one roof.
A $1.3 million investment by the NSW Government is set to transform an unutilised community health building located within the old Parkes Hospital precinct into the new Central West Day Care base.
Parkes Shire Councillor Patricia Smith said: “With major developments happening in Parkes such as the construction of Inland Rail, the first Special Activation Precinct, the expansion of CMOC Northarkes Mine and the Clean TeQ Sunrise project, we must invest in the delivery of a quality educational facility to ensure we can meet the needs of those new families and businesses relocating to the region.”
At a cost of just over $2 million, the project will include an integrated early childhood education facility, services for school aged children, and family services for children from birth to twelve years. The centre will focus on inclusive programs and facilities.
Central West Family Day Care Service Manager Ann-Marie Winter was delighted by the announcement. “With 51 educators and over 400 children enrolled, we have outgrown our current facility. The relocation into a larger, fit-for-purpose facility will allow Family Day Care to expand to facilitate additional services including preschool, before/after school care and vacation care.”
“With additional space, we will also look at complementary services utilising the rooms for consultation purposes, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dental checks, auditory services, inclusion support meetings, parenting classes, child assessments along with mother’s groups, breast feeding association meetings, conferences, play groups, and the delivery of Certificate III in Early Childhood courses.”
Central West Family Day Care Scheme is an Approved Community Service of Parkes Shire Council, regulated by the NSW Education and Communities – Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate, and is funded by the Department of Education and Training.