Deadline: 1-Feb-23
Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Childcare Workers program applications are now open.
The following highlights some of the workforce issues but not all:
- Quality of ECEC training can be poor, leading to compliance issues in ECEC services
- Undersupply of qualified educators, including diploma qualified staff
- Cost of obtaining a qualificationand the quality of the training
- Lack of professional development for regional educators
- High turnover of staff
- Uncontrolled metropolitan private sector growth in the ECEC space, diluting the pool of available educators
- Lack of affordable, available accommodation in regional towns
- Where accommodation is provided by external sources, i.e.LGAs or mining companies, there is no guarantee of continuity of availability
- Cost of private rentalscan be prohibitive for ECEC staff
- There is a lack of homes for sale in many regional towns for those people wishing to purchase their own home.
Aims
- The Attraction and Retention Program aims to support local solutions to local challenges. Examples of projects that may be developed to address workforce issues include:
- Local traineeships to relieve the accommodation issues as trainees are already part of the community
- Subsidised rental schemes for educators
- Subsidised relocation costs
- Partnerships with the local TAFE’s as preferred training providers
- Campaigns in partnership with local TAFE and high schools to encourage school leavers to consider ECEC as a career pathway, with the opportunity to take up traineeships with the local ECEC service
- Supporting staff to complete their practicums
- Supporting staff to undertake professional development.
Funding Information
- Amount: Grants up to $25,000.
What is covered by the grant?
- Funding of up to $25,000 is available for LGAs to deliver a range of activities including:
- Subsidised accommodation/housing
- Intrastate travel relevant to the project
- Relocation packages
- Training and professional development
- Support for educators to complete their practicums (including wages for relief staff)
- Purchase of small capital items to support online learning
- Workshops, seminars and talks to recruit prospective educators.
Eligibility Criteria
- Local Government Authoritiesthat work in partnership with their local ECEC services to develop the workforce packages.
Assessment Criteria
- Each application will be assessed against the following criteria:
- The extent to which the project addresses workforce issues in the local government area or region.
- Project outcomes are clearly defined and achievable.
- Partnerships with a range of community organisations, early childhood education and care services involved in the development of the project planning and delivery.
- Evidence of sound planning and demonstrated ability to manage the project.
- The requested grant amount is reasonable given the aim of the project, number of participants and expected outcomes (value for money).
Ineligible
- Entities not eligible to apply for funding through this program include:
- Commonwealth or State Government agencies
- Individuals
- Commercial, for-profit organisations
- Unincorporated, community sector organisations
- Incorporated community sector organisations
- Organisations located in the Indian Ocean Territories.
For more information, visit Government of Western Australia.