The NSW Government has announced a $5.2 million funding package for early childhood education services.
15 community preschools in the Cootamundra electorate have already received more than $160,000 from Round One and $170,000 from Round Two.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said, “This is the first time the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government are expanding the Drought Relief funding to long day care centres as well as community preschools, because we know the drought doesn’t discriminate based on the type of service a child attends – everyone is feeling the impact of the drought.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the program will help ease the financial burden of the drought on young families, whilst also ensuring participation in a preschool program is maintained. “Services in areas like the Cootamundra electorate can use this funding to assist families and children in a range of ways, including travel arrangements to maintain participation in early childhood education, crisis planning or fee subsidies to further support families.”
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall said the program was part of the NSW Liberal & National Government’s latest drought assistance package, designed to alleviate the sting of drought on farmers and regional communities.
“Across the State our farmers and regional communities are experiencing one of the worst droughts in living memory. That’s why the NSW Government has delivered a $755 million drought assistance package to help support our rural communities through these difficult times,” Mr Marshall said.
For more information on the Government’s Drought Support Package, visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au
