Working families in Kyogle and Federal Village are set to get more access to early childhood education and care including new programs, longer hours, weekend operating hours and additional places, as part of a new $20-million program.
The Flexible Initiatives Trial (FIT) aims to address parents’ barriers to workforce participation, particularly for women, by supporting early childhood services to adapt their offerings and hours where a local community need is identified.
Sixteen early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across regional and metropolitan NSW are set to receive more than $2.8 million in funding that has been announced. State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she was pleased two local services – Kyogle’s Bundgeam Preschool and the Federal Community Children’s Centre in the Byron Shire hinterland – were among the 16 grant recipients.
‘Bundgeam and Federal are blessed with dedicated early childhood educators and carers, and under the Flexible Initiatives Trial, they will be better positioned to meet the needs of working families in their local communities,’ Ms Saffin said.
