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Child care centre to be built at USC
The University of the Sunshine Coast has welcomed news that the Federal and State governments will help fund the establishment of a child care centre on campus at Sippy Downs.
Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin visited USC on Friday 6 August to announce that $1.8 million in Commonwealth funding would go towards construction of the child care centre.
She was accompanied by Queensland’s Minister for Disability Services Annastacia Palaszczuk, who announced State funding of a similar amount towards ongoing operating expenses of the centre.
The centre will be run by the AEIOU Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to children with autism.
It is expected to open for business in early 2011, providing 75 child care places, including 25 places for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD).
The centre also will be equipped to provide specialist rural and remote support for children with ASD and PDD in nearby regions.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the University had worked with the AEIOU Foundation and the Queensland Government for nearly two years on this project.
He said USC had donated the land to the project, which will help make life easier for students, staff and families in the local area.
“This will be a wonderful boost to the campus community and provide excellent training and research opportunities for students and staff,” Professor Hill said.
“As is the case with USC, the AEIOU Foundation is looking to broaden its outreach activities and will use the USC campus as a base for servicing client communities in surrounding regions.”
— Terry Walsh