Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Lundy. My question refers to the Wyndham Early Learning Activity centre, called WELA. It is a highly regarded community centre in the Kimberley. The community run initiative has been built up over a number of years and delivers programs that are helping to close the gap in Wyndham. In fact, the Prime Minister was so supportive of it she opened a brand new $1.7 million centre this time last year. However, is the government aware that as of next month this service will be reduced from five staff to just two part-time staff, delivering just 11 hours of programs a week and that this is largely due to the fact that the Parental and Community Engagement Program, PaCE, has not been refunded? Could the government please explain why this program has not been refunded and what they are doing to support this very important community centre?