Hyden Occasional Child Care 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, Wundowie, Bruce Rock, Dalwallinu, Cunderdin and Narambeen which have all joined the not-for-profit service in the past eight 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 24 place Centre is located at 70 McPherson Street, Hyden.

Krystie Falconer who is the President of the parent committee for the Hyden Occasional Child Care said that ‘we have closely followed REED from the beginning when it was all but an idea moving forward with fast momentum. Our volunteer committee are excited and grateful to be merging with REED. It will mean that our staff are given all the support they require, it will relieve the pressure of governing and operating a committee run centre from our very tired volunteer committee and it will ensure our centre stays sustainable and most importantly open for years to come – we are all excited to continue to watch our little daycare grow.

Our centre opened in 1996 and has been such an important part of the community for the last 24 years. We are glad to see this vital service be able to continue to operate for current and future families. We are a 24 place centre, servicing children aged 6 weeks to 12 years, and we currently have 2 staff members. We have been operating since 1996, when we were a true occasional care centre but have since progressed to 5 days a week 8:30am – 5pm’.

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 LoPerywest 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.