Tony Pasin MP Visits Berri Regional Child Care Centre to Celebrate Sandpit Upgrade Funded by Stronger Communities Grant

Tony Pasin MP Visits Berri Regional Child Care Centre to Celebrate Sandpit Upgrade Funded by Stronger Communities Grant

Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP, will visited the Berri Regional Child Care Centre (BRCCC) last week to inspect the centre’s newly upgraded sandpit — the final stage in its outdoor play space enhancement — made possible through a $20,000 Stronger Communities Round 9 grant.

The upgrade to the sandpit area marks a significant milestone for the centre. Over 35 years old, the former sandpit was cluttered, difficult to access, and featured deteriorating and ageing structures that posed ongoing maintenance challenges. Poor access and limited supervision made outdoor play difficult for both educators and children.

Now, with the completion of the new sandpit, children in the Berri community will benefit from a modern, safe and engaging outdoor learning space. The upgrade also fosters better working conditions for educators — helping with staff retention, recruitment, and the delivery of quality care. Importantly, the new design provides enhanced access and inclusion for children with disabilities.

“The new sandpit is more than just a place to play — it’s an investment in our children’s learning and development,” Mr Pasin said. “I’m delighted to see this community infrastructure made possible by the Stronger Communities Program.”

While the grant contributed $20,000 to the project, the total cost of the upgrade was $50,000, with the centre funding the remainder. The stronger, more accessible sandpit is a lasting enhancement that will serve families and staff for years to come.

Originally introduced by the former Coalition Government, the Stronger Communities program has, since 2015, supported thousands of organisations nationwide with funding for local projects delivering social benefits.

“We’re so grateful for the Stronger Communities grant which helped us complete this important upgrade. The new sandpit has transformed our outdoor learning space — creating a safer, more inclusive environment that benefits both children and staff, offering an engaging space for children to learn and thrive, supporting each child’s development,” Berri Regional Childcare Centre Director Kristy Coombs said. 

Mr Pasin is supporting the BRCCC’s application for a further grant under the Thriving Regions Enabling Infrastructure Program, which, if successful, will allow further upgrades to the facility. These works aim to support the centre’s expansion, meet higher occupational health and safety standards, and enable the delivery of additional childcare places in response to the region’s growing demand. BRCCC is a not-for-profit, community-run service in an area that has long been identified as a “childcare desert.”

Mr Pasin said, “I congratulate the Berri Regional Child Care Centre on this achievement. This upgrade not only enriches children’s play and learning opportunities but helps strengthen the Berri community and support local families. I look forward to continuing to advocate for regional childcare infrastructure and services across Barker.”