Cabonne Council’s out-of-school-hours care, or OOSH, services may be up against renewed financial challenges following an unsuccessful application for Commonwealth grant funding.
The problem is set to become especially impactful on the one service operating outside the Cabonne local government area, where council has managed the Blayney OOSH facility since 2013.
In the 2025/26 financial year, the Blayney facility was a money earner for the Shire.
It ran at a profit of about $129,00 with total revenue reaching almost $329,000 when user fees, government subsidies, grants, and external support are added together.
Meanwhile, it cost Cabonne Council about $200,000 to run the service.
Despite the past financial results, council leaders have cautioned that upcoming funding shortfalls may endanger the service provided users of all the six Cabonne Council-run OOSH services, including at Blayney.
A recent rejection of further cash for the services by the Commonwealth Community Child Care Fund has placed the ongoing provision of OOSH sessions in donut
“The loss of Commonwealth grant funding represents a significant challenge to the ongoing financial sustainability and ongoing delivery of OOSH services,” a council spokesperson said.
According to the spokesperson, municipal officers are seeking additional funding avenues while advocating for sustained government backing.
“Council has been actively advocating for continued support for childcare services and is exploring alternative funding opportunities to help with ongoing delivery,” the spokesperson said.
Cabonne Council confirmed there are no immediate plans to transfer management of the Blayney OOSH service to Blayney Council or an external provider, even following the funding loss.
This collaborative arrangement dates back to 2013, when Cabonne, Blayney, and Wellington councils formed a strategic alliance.
Cabonne Council assumed management of the Blayney OOSH service to try and help local families access out of school hours childcare.
“The service was established to support childcare availability for families in the Blayney community,” the spokesperson said.
The service mainly supports children enrolled in local Blayney schools, though it remains open to families outside the Blayney Shire.
Financial support for 2025/26 included an $8500 contribution from Blayney Council, with remaining revenue sourced through family fees, Child Care Subsidy payments, and Commonwealth funding.
According to a Cabonne Council spokesperson, the Blayney operation required no contribution from Cabonne ratepayers in 2025/26 and provided positive returns to the council’s broader children’s services budget.
Following the loss of Commonwealth funding, however, the council is assessing options to maintain the financial sustainability of all OOSH offerings.
“While council regularly considers a range of service delivery options as part of its planning and review processes, no decision has been made to transfer responsibility for the Blayney OOSH service at this stage,” the spokesperson said.