A $140,000 donation from Anglo American will help fund a playground with learning facilities for Moranbah children. 

The donation means the not-for-profit Simply Sunshine Childcare can open a second Moranbah facility to support local demand.

“This contribution has helped us to provide more Moranbah families with access to quality childcare,” director Amanda Stephan said.

“We’re very grateful to Anglo American for its ongoing support of the local community in Moranbah.”

An additional 44 weekly kindergarten places for children of local families would be created by the extra service at Moranbah State School and a further 22 childcare places would become available at the existing centre operated by Simply Sunshine Childcare.

Chief executive officer of Anglo American’s Metallurgical Coal business Tyler Mitchelson said the availability of quality childcare was a key priority identified by the Moranbah community through the company’s Social Way engagement process.

“As a major employer in Moranbah, we’re pleased to partner with Simply Sunshine Childcare to support the expansion of early education opportunities in the area,” Mr Mitchelson said.

“A central part of our Sustainable Mining Plan is to support thriving communities, and to achieve this we need to improve access to childcare services and education opportunities for children in mining communities.”

PIC: Amanda Stephan from Simply Sunshine Childcare with Anglo American’s Matt Norris, Tyler Mitchelson and Paul Stephan, and children Tommy Grange and Sam Wakerley in part of the new kindergarten playground.