Balancing work and life for families in regional NSW will become easier thanks to a $37.9 million investment in before and after school care.
Acting Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell today visited Bulahdelah Central School, one of 35 small regional schools to receive a financial boost to establish before and after school care in the community.
Mr Toole said the funding would help families access before and after school care, no matter where they live.
"This investment will give parents in small regional communities more flexibility and make the juggle between work and raising a family that little bit easier," Mr Toole said.
"The NSW Government has committed more than $20 million to establish before and after school care services in smaller communities like Bulahdelah where a traditional service is unviable."
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is committed to delivering quality before and after school care to NSW families.
"This Government is supporting working families by expanding before and after school care services across NSW, creating an additional 19,420 before and after school care places over the last three years," Ms Mitchell said.
"We know that regional working families can struggle when there's a lack of before and after school care services, as it often has a flow-on impact to parents participating in the workforce.
"Providing more before and after school care services has flow on effects in regional communities, making life easier for working families.
"This $37.9 million investment is on top of our existing $235 million commitment, to help support and grow the before and after school care sector to improve access and affordability for NSW families."
The BASC package includes:
- More than $20 million to expand BASC provision in regional schools.
- More than $16 million for grants to improve transport services to BASC services.
List of 35 schools receiving a financial boost:
- Adaminaby Public School
- Afterlee Public School
- Baradine Central School
- Bemboka Public School
- Bigga Public School
- Binnaway Central School
- Blackville Public School
- Bobin Public School
- Bogan Gate Public School
- Bombala Public School
- Bredbo Public School
- Bribbaree Public School
- Bulahdelah Central School
- Bundarra Central School
- Caragabal Public School
- Condobolin Public School
- Deepwater Public School
- Delegate Public School
- Ebor Public School
- Ellerston Public School
- Eumungerie Public School
- Goolgowi Public School
- Gulargambone Central School
- Hernani Public School
- Humula Public School
- Jerilderie Public School
- Jugiong Public School
- Mathoura Public School
- Murrurundi Public School
- Narromine Public School
- Nymboida Public School
- Pallamallawa Public School
- The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School
- Ungarie Central School
- Wooli Public School