More child care places for NSW families

More than $490,000 for 1,495 new outside school hours care places in New South Wales was announced today by Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony.

Mr Anthony said the funding, shared between 44 child care services across the state, will give more families access to after school hours care for the first time.

“These places will help families in metropolitan and rural areas with almost a third of the funding going to rural and regional services,” Mr Anthony said.

“It is essential working families can get subsidised child care when schools are not operating, so parents can better juggle the demands of work and family.”

Currently, more than 59,000 NSW children aged five to 12 years are enrolled in Commonwealth-funded vacation care and before and after-school care programs.

These programs are specifically designed for school-age children and include a range of educational and recreational activities.

“The Government’s child care program promotes equal access for all families to the service which best suits their individual needs,” Mr Anthony said.

“Improving access to high quality child care is a priority for the Government. This funding will allow more families throughout NSW to have access to convenient, quality and affordable after school hours care service.”

Families who need information about child care should call the Commonwealth Government’s national Child Care Hotline on 1800 670 305.