Published on Wednesday, 9 June 2021 at 9:36:37 AM
Media Release
9th June 2021
Onslow’s business community has come together to overcome a significant social and economic problem in the town - constraints on Onslow’s childcare capacity.
More than $2 million from the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project paid for a major expansion of the Onslow childcare service, doubling the centre’s capacity.
Chevron Australia then led a joint initiative with BHP, the Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Onslow Salt, and the Shire of Ashburton to develop a support package for One Tree Community Services (the centre’s operator) to attract more staff.
“Access to childcare is one of the most significant barriers to future development in Onslow,” OCCI CEO, Chantelle King, said.
“We now have a wonderful new facility that can increase capacity from 19 to 45 children, but One Tree Community Services need the staff to facilitate that, which is where the support package comes in to provide incentives for locals who want to join the childcare industry or people from outside Onslow to come here and enjoy our great lifestyle.”
The staff support package includes a range of incentives to attract and retain childcare staff.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the community to increase the number of places we can offer local families,” One Tree Community Services CEO, Karri Hillier, said.
“There is a national crisis with a lack of qualified childcare workers at the moment. The incentives will hopefully help. Our Onslow team are excited to be working in the new space.”
Wheatstone Plant Manager Deanne Renting said the support package provides a financial incentive to encourage locals to undertake qualifications, as well as attract new qualified residents to the community.
“The centre needs to grow from five to 10 staff to meet the centre’s larger capacity and to extend the operating hours to better meet the needs of the community, many of whom undertake shift work,” Deanne said.
BHP Petroleum Operations Manager Francis Bolzan said BHP was proud to be part of the industry’s collaborative efforts to support this much-needed initiative.
“We know access to childcare is a big issue in regional communities, and we’re hopeful this additional funding will help One Tree attract and retain the staff it needs to help with Onslow’s future economic development.”
Shire of Ashburton President Kerry White acknowledged that access to childcare is a vital support for families living in remote and regional areas and anticipated the upgrade to the Onslow Child Care facility would further encourage people to live and invest into the Onslow community.
“The upgraded facility enhances the amenities that Onslow has to offer to our young families, and through increased availability and access to childcare it will enable more parents to return or further participate in the workforce and take on new career opportunities which they may not have previously been able to do due to limited resources”.
Pictured (Left to Right): Deanne Renting (Chevron’s Wheatstone Plant Manager), Sinead Marshall (One Tree Community Services Onslow Centre Director), Beau Edwards, Kaelyn Marshall, Riley Edwards, Carolina Stephens, Cassandra Edwards (One Tree Community Services Onslow Centre Educational Leader), Eloise Stephens and Natacha Tonon (BHP Macedon Operations Assistant)
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