Western Australian families will benefit from a $10.5 million boost to child care funding for the next four years.
The increase will mean an extra 4,730 child care places across the State.
Community Development and Family Minister Eric Ripper said today State Cabinet had agreed to provide the funding as part of the expanded Commonwealth/State child care agreement.
It was part of the Commonwealth commitment, by the Federal Minister for Aged, Family and Health Services, Peter Staples, to provide 80,000 new child care places across Australia by 1996.
Mr Ripper said the agreement was in, line with the $179 million Social Advantage package, which would expand the availability of child care to Western Australian families.
The jointly-funded agreement meant an extra 2,850 places in Outside School Hours Care, 940 extra places in Long Day Care, and 940 extra places in Family Day Care.
The agreement allowed for up to 40 per cent of the extra places to be provided through innovative community-based services best able to respond to precise local needs. These services would be located in high-need areas identified through a needs-based planning process and jointly agreed at Ministerial level.
"The availability of high-quality affordable child care is essential to enable Western Australian parents to participate in the workforce," Mr Ripper said.
"This Government can be justifiably proud of its record in the provision of child care to enhance equal employment opportunities for women and in providing quality programs to help children reach their full development potential."
The total number of child care places in Western Australia in 1983 was nearly 6,000 and under the Labor Government this had increased to more than 16,000.
The Minister said the Commonwealth/State understanding ensured the proper coordination of planning and funding of child care places.
"The agreement acknowledges that the contribution of local councils and community-based management committees is vital to the success of the child care program.
"A range of service sponsors, ranging from Local Government, community groups, non-Government organisations, school committees and TAFE colleges, will be used to develop and implement services."
