The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments have committed more than $38 million to establish four new early learning centres in Western Australia.
It is the first time the two governments have partnered to deliver zero-to-five early education on WA public school sites.
The investment draws on the federal government’s $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, which rolled out from July 2025. The fund builds or expands early childhood education and care services in areas of greatest need, particularly outer suburbs, regional, and remote communities.
The announcement was made jointly by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, Minister for Early Childhood Education Senator Jess Walsh, and WA Minister for Early Childhood Sabine Winton MLA.
The federal government will contribute up to $27.9 million across the four projects. Confirmed sites include Maarakool Primary School and Greenmount Primary School. A fourth project is described as well-advanced and due to be announced shortly.
Across all four WA projects, the partnership is expected to create more than 140 early childhood education and care places.
A new early learning centre for Derby
A centrepiece of the package is a new Early Learning and Family Centre in Derby, in WA’s remote Kimberley region. Funding for the Derby facility breaks down as follows:
- $9 million from the Albanese Government
- $7.5 million from the WA Government
- Remainder from the Minderoo Foundation, through WA’s Early Years Partnership
Total commitment is $20.4 million.
The Derby centre will initially provide 30 early childhood education and care places and 30 after-school care places, growing to 48 and 35 respectively. It will serve families in Derby, Mowanjum, and Pandanus Park.
The Derby project is also the first Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC) initiative to receive Building Early Education Fund support. IDAC is a co-investment model that brings together government and philanthropy to address early childhood disadvantage.
Early access for WA families
Ministers framed the initiative as a practical response to longstanding access barriers across WA’s outer suburbs and remote communities.
“Where you grow up shouldn’t determine whether you can access early education,” Minister Clare said. “These projects in Western Australia mean more families can access early learning close to home and more children start school ready to go and ready to learn.”
Minister Clare also delivered a similar message about equity in education during a one-on-one interview at the Australian Education Awards.
Minister Walsh pointed to the co-location model as a key design feature. Placing early learning services on existing public school sites removes the need for families to manage multiple drop-offs.
“Co-locating early learning services with schools helps children transition smoothly to school and gives families a one-stop drop,” she said.
WA Minister Winton described the model as both practical and consequential. “Putting early learning services alongside schools is a practical way to make life easier for families and help children build familiarity and confidence before they start school,” she said.
A broader push on early learning access
The announcement fits within a sustained federal push on early childhood access and workforce.
Legislation introduced in August 2026 moved to permanently lock in the 15% pay rise for early childhood educators, backed by $3.6 billion in ongoing funding. That workforce commitment is directly relevant to the new WA centres, which will require qualified staff to meet demand at each site.
The WA investment also builds on the federal government’s First Nations early childhood record. In early 2025, Australia’s 50th Connected Beginnings site opened in Kununurra, Western Australia, extending wrap-around education and health services to around 600 local First Nations children.
The co-location strategy carries added weight in a state where early learning access has historically been uneven. Perth is now Australia's most affordable city for public schooling. Futurity Investment Group's 2026 Cost of Education Index puts the total cost for a government-educated child at $102,600, a 16% drop year on year. Removing the double drop-off burden may still ease pressure on families in outer-suburban growth corridors where early learning places remain scarce.
More information about the Building Early Education Fund (or Building Fund) is available through the Department of Education website.