NSW Government allocates $67 million for education flood recovery

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across the Northern Rivers and North Coast of New South Wales will receive a $9 million funding injection to help their recovery from the recent floods.

The funding comes as part of a total flood recovery package of $67 million for the broader education sector which includes schools and vocational training services which focuses on replacing educational resources, supporting staff wellbeing, and providing trauma training to support students, including:

• $10 million hardship fund for families to replace essential school items including school bags, school uniforms and lunch boxes;

• $6 million for school staff to replace lost equipment and resources;

• $9.5 million psychology and counselling for school and early childhood staff and trauma training so they can support students;

• $9 million to help ECEC services rebuild; and $29.7 million for the skills and higher education sector, including TAFE NSW, to replace materials and support staff with counselling.

“The NSW Government is making sure that our early childhood services, schools and vocational training institutions can replace valuable resources and assets so our young people can get back to their education,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

The focus on practical supplies and emotional support will also help students to “bounce back” NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole said.

The $67 milllion package for education complements the Government’s recently announced $112 million Back Home package.