Families in the Goulburn-Mulwaree region are set to benefit from the NSW government’s budget announcement to extend preschool subsidies for children aged 4 years to also include those aged 3 years. Anglicare’s Executive Manager for Early Childhood Education and Care, Simon Bennett, welcomes the move which is expected to result in up to $800 worth of savings for households each year.
“The number of people accessing Anglicare’s support services in this area are growing so we know that more families are struggling to make ends meet,” says Mr Bennett. “This is why Anglicare is so encouraged by the government’s move to bring in this change, and we hope that other states and territories will also follow suit.”
For Jennifer Craig, a parent at Anglicare’s Orana Preschool, the increased subsidy is a welcome relief. “Being on one income and with the costs of living increasing, this subsidy will really help our household when our youngest child is ready for preschool,” says Mrs Craig. “Our eldest child has really benefitted in Anglicare’s preschool environment – it’s an amazing place for her, and the savings that this subsidy brings means we can afford to pay for other things as she gets older like karate lessons.”
Local Member for Goulburn, Pru Goward, is also delighted to see families in the region benefitting from the initiative. “We know that when families can get their children attending preschool it helps get a head start on their education. I’m so thrilled that we can offer this for our future generations and the support this will provide families whose children attend preschools across the region. The NSW government has built a strong economy that is allowing us to help with cost of living pressure for families, including the opportunity to attend preschool a year earlier than ever before,” she says.
Anglicare currently supports over 261 children and their families through early childhood education and care programs in the Goulburn-Mulwaree area.
For more information about Anglicare’s child care programs, phone 4823 4000 or visit https://www.anglicare.com.au/services/early-learning/
