An Aboriginal owned and controlled child care service in La Perouse will be able to support more Indigenous children thanks to Morrison Government funding announced today.
The Coalition Government is investing $1.23 million to help fund improvements to the Gujaga Child Care Service in La Perouse.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the government’s investment would make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged families who use the service.
"There is considerable community demand for child care at Gujaga, and our Government is committed to providing support where it’s needed most," Mr Tehan said.
"Gujaga is operating at capacity and has a significant waiting list, so this expansion will allow the centre to offer an additional 48 educational spaces."
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion said the Empowered Communities Initiative created a lasting partnership between Indigenous leaders, communities and government, and this project was identified as a top priority for the Inner Sydney Empowered Communities (ISEC).
"Gujaga meets unique local community needs by providing a culturally responsive and appropriate early learning environment, and is also equipped to cater for children from surrounding areas such as Sutherland, St George and the Inner West," Mr Scullion said.
"Increasing the number of spaces at Gujaga also contributes to the Closing the Gap early childhood education target of 95 per cent of all Indigenous four year olds enrolled in early education by 2025.
"I congratulate Gujaga, ISEC, as well as the La Perouse Aboriginal Alliance for their hard work in advocating so strongly for their community and for their children in particular."
Gujaga Child Care Service Chairperson Shannon Williams said: "The Gujaga expansion is a three decade long infrastructure need that will allow Aboriginal children at La Perouse to have access to quality early years learning. We are pleased that the Morrison Government worked with our community to make this happen."
The expansion project is also being supported by LendLease, with $700,000 worth of in-kind contributions.
