Work underway at 380 South Australian preschools as stimulus package funds begin

South Australian preschools are starting to engage local tradespeople to complete priority maintenance work, as part of a $7.6 million stimulus package in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The package has delivered a $20,000 grant to all 380 government preschools in the state, and is designed specifically to deliver improvements to preschool sites while supporting local jobs and businesses to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.

“We have specifically designed the preschool grants to be used at a local level so that the money goes to engaging the small to medium businesses that have taken a big hit from the coronavirus,” SA Education Minister John Gardner said.

The grants are in addition to $25 million worth of maintenance work that has been fast-tracked at 116 schools, creating a “bumper maintenance package” set to support tradespeople across the state.

St Helen’s Park Kindergarten has used their grant to engage local landscapers to replace the irrigation system, with leftover funds to be used to install permanent rubber soft-fall in some play areas.

Director Annette Brown said the kindergarten was “very pleased” to receive the grant, noting that the firm chosen to deliver the work, Yardstick, was one which had been a long time supporter of the preschool. 

“Peter donated much of his time to the kindy when both his girls were enrolled here, and it is wonderful that we can implement infrastructure that benefits not only the kindergarten but also the local economy,” Ms Brown said. 

To read more about the grants, please see here.