Wundowie Child Care Centre Joins REED

Fluffy Ducklings Child Care Centre located in Wundowie 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 and Yilgarn, which 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 28 place Centre located Lot 424 Boronia Avenue Wundowie was opened in the early 1990’s and currently assists 21 families in Wundowie with their child care needs.  The 13 staff employed at the Centre will all be joining the REED team as of today.  The Centre will now be known as REED Wundowie.

Jennifer Macqueen, Fluffy Ducklings Child Care Committee President said ‘we are so pleased that after a long journey and hard work of some individuals, we are finally joining REED. With REED’s dedicated assistance and knowledge, the Centre services and staff will have more support in all aspects of day-to-day operations to ensure its long-term sustainability. It also means additional opportunities for professional development for staff to ensure we continue to deliver high quality early childhood education and care for Wundowie and surrounding towns. We are excited to be leaving our Centre in REED’s very capable hands’.

REED Board Chair Helen Creed further noted that ‘it was perfect timing for Wundowie to become part of the REED family just before the end of the year and festive season break, enabling them to start the new year with the full support and expertise of REED.  It has been a very busy six months for the REED staff who have successfully transitioned five Wheatbelt ECEC services, and we look forward to more joining in early 2020’.

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.