Long-awaited Bayonet Head Early Learning Centre opens its doors to provide crucial childcare openings in city

The recently completed Bayonet Head Early Learning Centre officially opened its doors on Saturday morning, with dozens of families turning out for a look. Centre staff, owners Caroline and Drew Parry and City of Albany deputy mayor Paul Terry were on site to officially open the childcare centre before interested families came in at 10am to tour the facility. The centre includes spaces specifically designed for children of a variety of ages, from babies not yet crawling to toddlers ready to take the next step into kindergarten. It also features indoor and outdoor play and learning spaces for kids to get their hands dirty, have some fun and learn something new. “This new centre is filling a gap for child care as the Bayonet Head area expands and new housing is built,” Cr Terry said. “We’re excited to see what you guys can do for the community and you’re the only childcare centre out here in Bayonet Head, so it’s making it easier for families that live that bit further out of the Albany CBD. “Economically that’s very important as well, making child care available to families so they are able to work and not worry about not having a place for their kids to go where they are going to be safe and looked after all day. “It’s about matching supply to demand and there’s clearly a demand for child care in the Albany community.” The new facility is set up to cater for 72 children and their families and Ms Parry said the interest from families in the centre’s early stages had been overwhelming. “When we opened our online early interest forms, we had more initial interest than we did number of places available, within about 48 hours, which was really encouraging,” she said. “There’s been absolute indication that families need childcare in Albany and it’s been great to be able to assist them. “We’re expecting to see a lot of families coming through to have a look, ready to join our childcare centre when we open on Monday. “We’ve had a couple of families and mums tell us that now that we’re open they will be able to go back to work for the first time in months, so it’s clear we’re fulfilling need in the community by being here.” The centre began operating on Monday. In a 2022 report, Albany’s shortfall of available childcare places saw the city labelled a “childcare desert” and the problem has continued to be a pressing issue within the community.