Council explores potential transition of early years services

Published on 09 April 2025

West Wimmera Shire Council is considering transitioning the management of its kindergartens, childcare, and Maternal and Child Health services to alternative specialist providers, ensuring families continue to have access to high-quality early years services.

This potential transition will affect Goroke Preschool, Edenhope Early Childhood Service, Kaniva Kindergarten, as well as Maternal and Child Health services in Kaniva, Harrow, Goroke, and Edenhope. No formal agreements have been concluded with any alternative providers.

Any potential agreements would ensure that families continue to receive services at their existing locations, ensuring consistency of service delivery through a smooth handover process. Such a transition would reflect Council’s commitment to providing families across the shire with uninterrupted access to the well-resourced, high-standard early years services they currently enjoy.

A genuine partnership between Council and alternative providers has the potential to strengthen the delivery of these essential programs while ensuring continuity for families and staff.

West Wimmera Shire Council Mayor Tim Meyer said this transition would provide new opportunities to improve services for children and parents.

“Families rely on high-quality early years programs to give their children the best start in life,” he said.

“Through this partnership, we are ensuring that local families will continue to receive exceptional care and education in a way that meets their expectations and is sustainable for the future.”

All existing staff would be supported throughout a potential transition, with no job losses resulting from the change.

“We understand that early years services are deeply valued by families in our shire, and we are committed to keeping the community informed throughout this process,” Mayor Tim Meyer said.