Preschools in bushfire impacted areas of the Goulburn electorate will benefit from a one-off payment to provide fee relief and help with the recovery from this summer’s devastating fires.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell announced the grants to more than 200 community preschools.
“Preschools are crucial to communities, bringing them together and allowing parents to rebuild while their children are educated and cared for,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We know many communities have been hit hard by these fires, which is why the NSW Government will make a one-off payment of $10,000 to community preschools and mobile preschools to provide fee relief for impacted families.”
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman visited SDN Crookwell on Friday. SDN Children’s Services operate a Preschool in Crookwell as well as in other regional areas hit by crisis. Mrs Tuckerman said the payments will are another way the Liberal and Nationals Government are supporting bushfire communities get back on their feet.
“These payments will help relieve some of that pressure, allowing services to provide fee relief and other additional supports for their communities,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“Families in the Goulburn electoratehave been hit hard by fire and floods this summer and focused support for preschools will help everyone from the families staff and broader community.”
“Payments will be made from the end of this week and paid automatically to eligible services; no application is required.”
SDN Crookwell Service Leader, Jessica Smith said SDN welcomes the quick response by the NSW Government to assist children and families to be able to continue to access quality early education programs after such traumatic events.
“Preschools and Early Childhood services are a place of safety and normality for children, and their families, which is vital after such events that have happened over the summer period,” Ms Smith said.
The payments can be used for a range of activities including fee relief for families, counselling support, and rectifying fire damage and fire preparedness.
Commonwealth funded services that are eligible for Child Care Subsidy can apply for grants through the Community Child Care Fund and families suffering financial hardship can access fee relief through the Additional Child Care Subsidy.
WENDY TUCKERMAN 