Role Title: Project Intern: Assess the economic and social impact of REED in regional Western Australia
Organisation: REED
Internship Period: Semester 1 (February - May)
Location: Welshpool
In 2018, Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED) was established to address the need for a new approach to governance and delivery of sustainable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services which had been an ongoing challenge in small regional communities. REED now provides some 25 services in widely dispersed locations in the Wheatbelt and adjacent regions.
Anecdotally, it is known that that parents whose children attend ECEC services in rural areas and REED’s Educators who provide services make a significant contribution to the economic and social fabric of their community and the wider region.
Surveys recently undertaken obtained the following information from a sample of REED services:
1. the activity of parents while their children attend REED services,
2. comprehensive information about staff employed in REED services, including qualifications, where qualification/s were obtained, current role, country of birth, length of time living in the Wheatbelt town, advantages and disadvantages of living in a regional town.
The Intern will analyse this and other information to assess the economic and social impact of REED services. The project report will inform documentation of ‘the REED story’ which can be presented to a range of audiences and address current negative publicity about the lack of child care in regional Australia. RPS Consultants Net Community Benefit Assessment of the Wheatbelt Regional Model of Governance, provides useful background.
Regional Early Education and Development Inc. (REED) has been established in response to challenges identified by Early Childhood Education and Care services in more than 20 communities across the Wheatbelt region.
REED is a not-for profit incorporated association and a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Any surplus is reinvested to support the provision of the best standard of care and education.