Patrick Goldsmith, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

In a landmark moment for child care services on Yorke Peninsula, the Maitland Family Centre officially opened on Monday, May 22.

Following a long push from central and southern Yorke Peninsula families, the new centre, to be joined by a purpose-built facility at Minlaton in January, was met with strong enrolments and a productive first week.

Centre assistant director Dani Redman has been living on Yorke Peninsula for two years, and has a background in early childhood and disability studies and nursing. [sic] walked out with a fulltime position. She said it was a great opportunity she couldn’t ignore.

“I love it, I’ve always supported children and their education and it’s just something I’ve always been interested in, back since I was in school,” she said.

“The community needs it; there’s nothing below Kadina really so people have been shouting out for it.

“Not only the education or care side of it, but also engagements based on their own age, it’s not just parents wanting their children to be involved, but the children being involved in interactions with children their own age.”

Ms Redman said it was important parents and other family members can now go back to work or to school.

“All the children love being here and while it’s new for them, they’re enjoying it.

Obviously some of the kids are getting used to being away from their parents, but there’s a lot of explorers; they love being outside,” she said.

“Everyone is doing really well; it’s a big change and we have some educators who are trainees coming in, some with over 10 years’ experience and obviously working with the children, we’re working on the repour with them.”

The centre welcomed Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis and Minister for Education Blair Boyer for a tour on Tuesday, May 23.

Community services manager James Wagner said the centre would offer much more than just early learning.

“We’ll be providing more than early education, we’ve got that wholistic support we’ll be offering to families and the community,” he said.

“We’re still doing research about what that looks like, identifying community needs.

“We’re offering first aid training here in town instead of people having to drive to Adelaide.

“We know there are needs in this community and people could benefit from that additional support and we looking forward to doing it.”

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 30 May 2023.