Community OOSH welcomes $44,400 grant to boost transport options

Outside school hours care (OSHC) provider Community OOSH Services has welcomed a $44,400 NSW Government grant to boost its transport services for school children in the Coffs Harbour area of New South Wales.

Community OOSH specifically caters for school-aged children and was established in 2005 to meet the need for quality OSHC, quickly growing into the largest provider of these services on the NSW Mid North Coast.

“We were approached by the Education Department’s Before and After School Care (BASC) team to work with them to provide a care solution for small, regional and/or remote public schools who do not currently have access to OOSH services,” Co-Director David Bourke explained to news source News of the Area. 

Under the Community OOSH model, children from a variety of local schools are transported to  purpose built, ‘kid friendly’ centres. Receiving the grant will support the provider to connect with smaller school populations in more outlying areas, ensuring that the demand is met, while supporting viability. 

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh congratulated Community OOSH, who will use the grant to purchase a vehicle.

“This welcome funding will build on their transport arrangements to and from Upper Orara Public and Karangi Public school to the Community OOSH Services at Coffs Harbour PCYC,” Mr Singh said.

The grant was delivered as part of a proposal by the NSW Government to support OSHC providers in the state by offering grants of up to $85,000 to support transport solutions to increase access to OSHC. Priority in grant allocation was given to students in small, regional and/or remote public schools who do not currently have access to OSHC services.