- Thirty-seven Early Childhood Education and Care and Outside School Hours Care providers share in $750,000 in funding
- Funding distributed as part of the Cook Labor Government's Attraction and Retention Grants program
- Program provides grants to services to fund initiatives that support the early childhood education and care workforce
Western Australia's early childhood workforce is getting a major boost, with 37 recipients sharing in $750,000 through the first round of the Attraction and Retention Grants program.
The funding will support practical, on-the-ground initiatives designed to attract, support, and retain educators across the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) sectors.
Twenty-nine of the successful recipients deliver services in regional and remote WA, ensuring communities right across the State benefit from targeted workforce support where it's needed most.
Funded projects range from educator marketing campaigns and leadership development to mental health first aid training and networking opportunities.
All of these projects are aimed at strengthening the workforce and supporting those who care for WA's youngest learners.
This is the first of four grant rounds under the Cook Labor Government's 2025 election commitment of $3 million, delivering real support to grow and sustain the early childhood workforce across WA.
The program has already attracted strong interest, with 131 applications received in the first round alone, highlighting the sector's commitment to building a strong, skilled, and supported workforce.
Grants of up to $25,000 are available to providers across the sector, including for-profit and not-for-profit and local government services, to deliver initiatives such as recruitment campaigns, career pathway development, subsidised regional accommodation, relocation support, professional learning, and retention strategies.
Building on the success of the previous regional grants program, this expanded initiative ensures support is now reaching ECEC and OSHC providers right across the State.
More information on the first round of grants can be found here: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/department-of-communities-grants-programs
As stated by Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton:
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting the early childhood education and care sector, including OSHC, to attract and retain high-quality educators across all of Western Australia.
"The quality of services provided by the ECEC and OSHC providers in our State is essential to the health, safety, and wellbeing of children, which is always our top priority.
"These grants provide a pathway for the sector to attract and retain staff in the workforce in several important ways, including regional support, retention strategies, and professional development."
