Julia Creek could see a major expansion to its daycare facility, after 35 enrollments in 2019 took the centre to near full capacity.
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McKinlay Shire Council will conduct a feasibility study and detailed design of a new children’s facility following the successful application for a $300,000 Maturing the Infrastructure Pipeline Program grant.
The study will assess the childcare needs of the shire including childcare from six weeks to pre-school, before and after school care, vacation care, and playgroup/mothers group.
Julia Creek Early Learning Centre currently caters for children aged 12 months to five years and the proposed expansion is to facilitate the growing amount of enrollments at the centre.
“We are at full capacity Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this year, with limited spaces available on Monday and space on Friday,” Director Emma Daniels said.
“We have an increase in enrolments in recent years. However this year we are seeing increased utilisation of the service with 14 children enrolled in our kinder program who will be transitioning to prep in 2020, hence why we are at capacity on Tuesday, Wednesday and, Thursday.”
Mayor Belinda Murphy said she hadn’t known the daycare to be this busy for many years.
“I think this is due to a lot of young people moving back to Julia Creek, whether they are on properties or in town. I think it is a really good thing,” Cr Murphy said.
“The daycare extension probably won’t happen in this term of council but we certainly want to give a new council next year, a good solid business case and design so they can go straight to government for funding.
“Julia Creek is going to need this new facility. If the mine starts up then it is critical that we have that.
“If a family moved to town tomorrow and wanted to work full time while having a daycare or kindergarten aged child, they would go on a waiting list.”
The centre has also hired more educators to ensure ratios and qualifications are maintained to cover the amount of children.
“This is to ensure we can continue to meet the individual needs of all of the children that attend the service. We currently have two bachelor qualified staff, two diploma qualified staff, one studying her diploma and another who has her Certificate III and is about to begin studying her diploma and we are also currently advertising for casual staff,” Ms Daniels said.
“The vibe at the centre is definitely busy, but positive. We love being able to provide an enriched and engaging learning environment for so many young people within our community.
“With so many children attending each day we encounter a variety of experiences, knowledge, ideas and ways of being from each of the children which provides so many meaningful opportunities for peer learning.
“The children are all such great friends, being from a small community we have an opportunity to get to know the children and their families really well.”
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
