Darkan Child Care Centre Joins REED

Kids Central Child Care Centre located in Darkan has become the latest Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Centre to join the Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED). 

 This addition follows on from Child Care Centres in Corrigin, Merredin, Brookton, Yilgarn and Wundowie, who have all joined the not-for-profit service in the past six months. 

 REED offers a new cluster model of management to provide ECEC services across the Wheatbelt, working to reduce the burden on local Committees and Shires to provide these vital community services.

The 19 place Centre located at 2 Darkan South Road was opened in 2010 and offers long day care for ages six months – pre-school children four days a week.  The Centre employs two permanent staff members, as well as three casuals.

Ms Kym Harrington, Manager of Community Services from West Arthur Shire said the council had been managing the service to date, and was looking forward to what the service could offer into the future under REED’s guidance.

‘The service fluctuated between three and four days, which was dependant on demand and staffing requirements.  The staff and families of Kids Central will really benefit from the continuation of care offered by REED, and the peer and co-ordinator support.  It will also be beneficial for the ongoing development of policies and procedures and for the sharing of ideas and resources.

The Centre will now be known as REED Darkan.

REED was officially launched by Minister Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services in Narrogin in March 2018.

The State Government and Lotterywest have funded REED in the establishment phase.  The head office is located in Narrogin and REED Cluster Managers service South, East and West locations in the Wheatbelt. 

Over the next 18 months, additional Wheatbelt ECEC services in towns are expected to merge with REED.