Southern Tablelands services receive funding boost from Community Grants program

Five early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in the Southern Tablelands and Highlands of New South Wales will benefit from additional funding delivered under the Community Grants Program via the NSW Department of Education.

SDN Children’s Services sites Crookwell Preschool and Lady McKell in Goulburn were each awarded $9,900 while centres from the Big Fat Smile Group in Bundanoon, Robertson and Reynolds Street Goulburn were awarded $10,000.

Speaking with local publication Goulburn Post SDN Head of Services Jodie Ledbrook said the funding will support vulnerable children and increase their participation in early learning. 

“SDN places great importance on delivering sustainable initiatives,” she said. “We look forward to working with the local community to identify the strategies to increase access and participation and the best possible outcomes for children.”

Local MP Wendy Tuckerman visited Lady McKell on the announcement, saying she hoped the funding would give morale at the services a boost following a challenging few years. 

“Grants of up to $10,000 have been approved for a range of activities to support participation by Aboriginal children and children from low income families in a preschool program,” Mrs Tuckerman told the paper.

“It’s fantastic to see this funding being made available to support the work of these services in the Goulburn electorate.”

The 2022 grants also mark the first year the program includes funding for Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services and Aboriginal Child and Family Centres.

To learn more about the Grants please see here. For the original coverage of this story please see here.