Drought Support for Preschools in the Hunter

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald meets with children in the Hunter. 

Hunter pre-schools have received government funding as part of a $3 million package aimed at ensuring early childhood services continue in the drought afflicted areas of the state.

Greta Community Pre-school, Branxton Pre-school and Hunter Mobile Pre-school received payments ranging from $4 thousand to $17 thousand.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald says the drought has affected local families in several ways.

"We know how crucial it is to continue to  help families and businesses in areas like the Hunter that have felt the impacts of the drought," Mr Macdonald said.

"There's not as much money around, families don't have as much money to spend on things like preschool."

The funding is part of the NSW States Governments ongoing and consultative approach to the drought.

"There's extra costs involved so its important that theyre able to keep up maitenance and all those sorts of things," Mr Macdonald said.

"This can help them fit out preschools. Those things are a little bit tougher in drought conditions. But most directly just helping families access preschools with things like fees. "

Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said it is crucial the NSW Government continues to support families to ensure children always have access to top quality early childhood eduation, no matter where they live or what circumstances are.