Early Years bus service to provide vital school and healthcare access for Great Southern families

A brand-new Early Years bus service enables young children in the Great Southern access to essential early childhood services by removing persistent transport barriers.

Taking its first trip on May 6, the service provides transport to families with children up to 4-years-old to early education services such as KindiLink, health services, and cultural events across Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, and Broomehill-Tambellup.

The initiative developed from the Central Great Southern Community Plan, co-designed with local families, educators and service providers, who identified transport as a major hurdle when accessing early childhood education and health services.

Funded through the Early Years Partnership, the place-based approach guarantees tailored solutions to the individual needs of families in the region to improve school readiness, health outcomes, and family participation in the community, to be evaluated in time.

Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said she is eager to support young families and continue to deliver Early Years projects.

“The first five years of a child’s life are so important. It is during this time that they build the foundation for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing,” Ms Winton said.

“The Early Years Partnership is a unique collaboration between the State Government, Minderoo Foundation, and the Telethon Kids Research Institute Australia that promotes new ways of working to achieve positive outcomes for children, families and the wider community.

“We know that attending early learning activities and child health appointments is vital in supporting children’s wellbeing and school readiness.

“I’m pleased that the Early Years bus service is helping families in Katanning and surrounding communities to access early childhood services.”

Families can enrol in the service via a barcode system with the BAC Connected Beginnings team.