Applications are now open for grants of up to $30,000 for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services impacted by major flooding in the Northern Rivers.
$9 million in funding is available to help eligible services in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed local government areas to rebuild, under the NSW Government’s $67 million Education Flood Recovery Package.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said having access to safe, quality learning environments is essential for our littlest learners and communities.
“ECEC services are places of fun and growth for children, and an important part of parents’ lives too, particularly as they rebuild homes and life returns to normal,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I encourage eligible providers to apply today so they can get their services back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the grants would assist with repairs and help replace valuable resources.
“Like so many businesses and organisations across the Northern Rivers, many early childhood education and care operators were badly impacted in the devastating flooding,” Cooke said.
“These grants will provide some much needed financial reprieve to help them get services back up and running and will take the pressure off families who may also be trying to recover from this unprecedented flood event.
The ECEC Flood Recovery Grants are available to community preschools, mobile preschools, long day care services, multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, Aboriginal Child and Family Centres, family day care services, occasional care services and out of school hours care services.
Grant applications close on 30 May 2022.
For more information visit: www.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-support/businesses
