Cohuna child care advocacy continues

Published on 10 November 2023

Gannawarra Shire Council continues to advocate for the development of an Integrated Early Childhood Centre in Cohuna which will improve access to early childhood education and childcare for the districts residents.

Council today released its Cohuna Childcare Advocacy paper, which highlights the need for funding to develop the centre, proposed to be based at Cohuna Consolidated School, by January 2025 in time for the rollout of the new Pre-Prep program, which will replace the current four-year-old kindergarten structure.

“Council continues to work with the State Government to secure funding for this much-needed project, which will support current and future early childhood development and childcare needs,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“The Regional Development Australia Loddon Mallee’s Creating Viable Rural Childcare Services report states that there is a $1.32 return for every $1 spent on childcare, with flow-on benefits including supporting future residential growth and employment opportunities.”

The advocacy paper builds on the work undertaken during the development of the Exploring Care and Education in Cohuna Final Report, which was presented to Council in February 2023.

The report’s major recommendation was the development of the Cohuna Integrated Early Childhood Centre, which would include:

• A Pre-Prep room that can also be used for after school care;
• A multi-age room for three-year-old kindergarten programs and outside kindergarten hours childcare;
• A dedicated childcare room; and
• A Maternal and Child Health office.

Tenielle Edge, who has coordinated a community-led campaign for improved childcare availability for Cohuna, welcomed Council’s ongoing advocacy for the project.

“I am so pleased to see Council is continuing to advocate for our grave need of a childcare facility in Cohuna,” she said.

“The promotion of the Cohuna Childcare Advocacy paper needs to go far and wide and the community need to continue to make noise regarding this matter.

“We won’t rest until this facility is up and running, and our children have a safe environment to grow and learn, and parents can return to work and study with options for care.”

To view the Cohuna Childcare Advocacy paper, please click on the Strategic Documents heading at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/documents