A community-run early childhood education and care service in Napranum is providing local families with greater flexibility and access to high quality early childhood education and care.
Early education gives children the best start in life, and we want every to have access to quality early education and its transformative benefits.
The Napranum Early Childhood Centre combined their former daycare and kindergarten services into an integrated centre on 23 June 2025.
The integrated centre follows more than two years of dedicated work from the community, led by the Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council and Napranum Early Childhood Centre, and supported by the Department of Education and SNAICC - National Voice for our Children.
The Napranum Early Childhood Centre service was funded in 2021 as part of an almost $30 million expansion of the Australian Government's Community Child Care Fund Restricted Program, which funds the establishment of sites run by mainly First Nations led organisations.
This is another example of the Albanese Government's commitment to the Closing the Gap National Agreement, in particular increasing the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
SNAICC, the national peak body for Indigenous children, is the community partner for these sites, supporting their establishment and the implementation of community-led and culturally safe early childhood education and care.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Senator Dr Jess Walsh:
"The integrated Napranum Early Childhood Centre opening is a fantastic outcome for First Nations children and families in Napranum, providing greater access for children in the community who need it most.
"Every child should benefit from access to quality and culturally safe early childhood education and care, including in remote regional communities in Queensland.
"That's why the Australian Government is investing in our regional and remote communities through programs like the Community Child Care Fund.
"More families access to quality early childhood education and care in areas where it is needed most. And that's why our Government is investing $500 million over four years to deliver just that."
Quotes attributable to Member for Leichardt, Matt Smith MP:
"This is a great outcome for Napranum, being the only Early Childcare Centre in the community. This will not only save families from having to travel to Weipa to access childcare but also take pressure off the already long waiting list Weipa has.
We know the first five years of a child's life if where they learn, develop and begin to shape their future so giving the children and families of Napranum the opportunity to access childcare, is fantastic for everyone."
