Funding boost for before and after school care across north shore

AFTER school care organisations that are not-for-profit will get a funding boost from the State Government and allow them to create more places.

Wahroonga Public School has been granted government funding for their before and after school care program. Picture: Virginia Young

NOT-FOR-PROFIT out of school hours care providers have received a much-needed funding boost, which will increase places across the region.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Early Childhood Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said phase three of the After School Care Fund will add not-for-profit providers to the $20m fund.

“We know many families rely on before and after school care to juggle busy work schedules and other commitments,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Expanding the fund means extra support to encourage community organisations to offer out of school hours services and ease the burden in areas of high demand.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Early Education Sarah Mitchell are greeted by co-captains Charlie Ashton and Ruby Callinan during a visit to Randwick public school on May 31 to make the announcement about out of school care provisions. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Ms Mitchell spoke with the Hornsby Advocate following the announcement, to explain how the fund will benefit local providers.

“Eight providers in the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai region have received a $30,000 grant so far, creating 340 extra places,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Expanding the eligibility criteria to include not-for-profits allows a wider pool of applicants to be supported by the fund, and provides more options to ensure unmet demand is reduced.

“The Before and After School Care Fund is about making sure that need is met, that working families are supported.”

Ms Mitchell said organisations could also pool their resources together, to apply for a joint proposal of more than $30,000.

“As minister and a mother of a three-year-old, I know families need flexibility,” she said.

“Grants must be used to increase the number of approved before and after school care places by creating a new service or by increasing the number of existing approved places.”

Wahroonga Public School is the latest local school to be accepted under the new eligibility criteria.

School principal Tom Moth said the school’s programs is co-ordinated by a not-for-profit group that reinvest all funds back into the program.

“The before and after school care programs are already comprehensive, but the new funds will see the development of more spaces and a new building to house activities,” Mr Moth said.

“These funds will see a minimum of 30 additional places in the before school, after school and vacation care programs.

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“We applied for the first round of the grants and were successful in round two with full funding of $30,000, which means we will see more training of staff and updated facilities for our students.”

Schools including Pacific Hills, Abbotsleigh, Mt Colah Public School, Normanhurst Public School and Thornleigh West Pubic School have recently received approval under the grant.