No Child Misses Out: NSW Government Expands Key Grants Programs

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have today announced that more local children across our region will now have access to upgraded facilities and better educational experiences, thanks to the New South Wales Government broadening the eligibility criteria of key early childhood grants programs.

Mr Ward said that the Quality Learning Environments and Community Grants programs will now be extended to include not-for-profit long day care centres as well as community preschools.

“Shelley and I are thrilled that more children across our region will now benefit from these grants, which have already been greatly received by a number of community preschools across region,” he said.

“I have already seen local community preschools benefit previously from the Quality Learning Environments and Community Grants programs, and now it’s time for Long Day Care centres to experience the benefits as well – because we don’t want any child missing out,” Mr Ward said.

Mrs Hancock said that hundreds of services have also benefitted from the Community Grants program since its establishment in 2018, which aims to increase the number of disadvantaged children participating in an early childhood education program.

“I am urging eligible long day care centres across the South Coast electorate to consider applying for the grants, which will help ensure children in our region have access to the best-quality early education experience,” she said.

“Since the introduction of the program in 2018, the NSW Government has awarded more than 770 Quality Learning Environments grants, helping services across the state fund renovations and repairs, the purchase of particular infrastructure items, specialised programs and activities, like yoga or dance classes,” Mrs Hancock said.

Applications for the Quality Learning Environments grants are now open, and Community Grants later in June.