Molong & Cudal pre-school funding

A surprise visit on Tuesday morning by the NSW State Minister, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education accompanied by the Deputy Premier’s Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW, Rick Colless MP, both members of the Nationals – brought with them an extra special surprise.

Funding of $259,909.00 so that the MELC can now go ahead with an important works program to create 100 extra pre-school places per week, 8 additional childcare places a day – and 5 new positions for early childhood education professionals and trainees.

In making the announcement, Sarah Mitchell and Rick Colless said that the grant offered to 16 centres throughout NSW including Molong and Cudal will provide “more children in the Central West with access to high quality early childhood education.”

“This builds on the NSW Government’s historic investment of more than $330 million to ensure more children have access to 600 hours of quality, affordable early childhood education until 2020, while also seeing fees reduced on average by 25 per cent across the state.”

“The NSW Government is putting kids in regions like Molong and Cudal at the top of the priority list. “Early childhood education is vital to childhood development. Children who have access to top quality services have a head start when they begin primary school and these benefits stay with them for life” Mrs Mitchell said.

“That’s why the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is investing in the infrastructure of our regional preschools to ensure that every child has every opportunity to access quality early childhood education.”

The grant is part of the NSW Government’s $10 million Start Strong Capital Works Grants program.

Note: Respectfully, thank-you must also be extended to Member for Orange, Phil Donato who brought the MELC situation to the Minister’s attention and to Rick Colless MP for his involvement.