Funding Boost for Local Not-For-Profits

Local not-for-profits will benefit from a funding boost to ease financial pressure and help them recover from impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Social Sector Support Fund is providing not-for-profit organisations with grants of between $10,000 and $200,000.

“The social services sector has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support people doing it tough, and this funding will provide our frontline organisations with a hand-up,” Ms Cooke said.

“The funding will support not-for-profits who have seen a decline in their revenue and can be used to assist with brokering services and support for clients.”

Local organisations receiving funding include:

  • Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated – $150,000
  • The Farm in Galong – $100,000

The grants support organisations which did not receive JobSaver or JobSaver Not-For-Profit and are working across child and family services, domestic violence, homelessness, health, disability and animal welfare sectors. More information about the Social Sector Support Fund is available online

$75,000 for Narrandera so Everyone can Play

The Narrandera Shire Council has been awarded $75,000 as part of the final round of the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play program.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program supports councils to build new or upgrade existing playspaces to improve inclusivity across NSW.

“This grant is a win for the community. It means that Narrandera will have better public facilities for everyone to enjoy, regardless of age, ability or cultural background,” Ms Cooke said.

The funds will be put towards upgrading the Narrandera Adventure Playground to make the space more inclusive.

The Everyone Can Play program was established in 2018 as part of the $290 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney package. It supports the Government’s priority of increasing access to quality, walkable, green and open public space.

A full list of recipients is available at: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/EveryoneCanPlay

For more information, go to www.everyonecanplay.nsw.gov.au

Cootamundra Electorate Wins Seniors Festival Grant

Seniors in the Cootamundra electorate will have even more reason to celebrate during the 2022 Seniors Festival with the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council winning a share of $200,000 in NSW Government funding to host a community event.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said local events aimed at engaging older people are a highlight of the Seniors Festival.

“Our seniors play a vital role in our community as volunteers, carers and grandparents and we want to recognise and reward their contribution with activities tailored to their interests,” Ms Cooke said.

“Local seniors are sure to enjoy the great variety of events planned in the region to celebrate the Seniors Festival in 2022.”

Minister for Seniors Natalie Ward said 92 groups across NSW have been awarded grants of between $450 and $10,000 to provide opportunities for older people to participate in their communities.

“We’re supporting the programs that assist older people to be healthy and active as they age,” Mrs Ward said.

“The events and activities will take place during NSW Seniors Festival from 25 March−3 April next year and provide older people with cultural, creative, sporting and recreational opportunities.”

Cootamundra-Gundagai Mayor Abb McAlister said they would use their $8,000 funding boost to host a Seniors Expo in Cootamundra and Seniors Fair in Gundagai.

“We’re putting on cultural tours, rug making, history walks, sports and even a pamper party. Keeping active and engaged is key to a long and happy life,” Mr McAlister said.

Mrs Ward said the grants align with the NSW Government’s commitment to older residents, under the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021–2031.

For more information about the 2022 NSW Seniors Festival visit seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au

Apply Now for Social Sector Grants

Local social services organisations can now apply for up to $200,000 to assist with the
transition away from COVID-19 restrictions.


Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said $22 million is available to help address
medium-term service needs for charities and not-for-profits.
“There are so many great local social services organisations that have worked hard
throughout the pandemic to deliver services to vulnerable people in our community,”
Ms Cooke said.


“This funding will provide targeted relief so that organisations can continue delivering
their important services and support as transition to eased restrictions.”


The grants are open to organisations who did not receive JobSaver or JobSaver NotFor-Profit and are working across child and family services, domestic violence,
homelessness, health, disability and animal welfare sectors.


The funding aims to ease financial pressures for not-for-profits who have seen a
decline in their revenue and can be used to assist with brokering services and support
for clients.


Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the
grants are part of the NSW Government’s $50 million Social Sector Support Fund.
“These grants give a hand up to organisations as they gradually return to businessas-usual, helping them address any financial barriers to service delivery,” Mr
Henskens said.


Applications are open until Sunday 28 November. For more information, and to apply,
visit https://dcj.smartygrants.com.au/SSSF-OpenApplications.

$20,000 Funding for Service Upgrades at Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre

The Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre will receive a $20,000 funding
boost to help them modernise their operations and improve the services they deliver.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Social Sector
Transformation Fund was supporting small to medium sized organisations with grants.


“Social services organisations such as the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood
Centre play a pivotal role delivering support to some of the most vulnerable people in
our community,” Ms Cooke said.


“They’ve had to adapt how they deliver services during the pandemic and this $20,000 in funding will help them invest in improved business processes, technology upgrades and new ways of reaching out to the community.”


The Social Sector Transformation Fund supports organisations working in the social
and health services sector, including homelessness, housing, disability, youth, health
and child and family services.


Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the
fund would create a stronger social services sector.


“Our community services organisations are the backbone of our nation and when they are strong, we are all strong,” Mr Henskens said.


“This funding will enable grassroots community organisations to invest in practical
changes that will help them remain viable long into the future.”


More information about the Social Sector Transformation Fund is available online.

Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten Reaches Key Development Milestone

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke today welcomed a key milestone for the
NSW Government-funded redevelopment of the Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten.
The project has reached the tender stage which means it is a significant step closer
to the commencement of construction.


Director of Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten, Stacey Smith said the project team is
absolutely delighted to have the tender for construction now live and on the open
market.


“This step makes the build seem that little more real, and that little more achievable,”
Mrs Smith said.


In order for preschoolers to continue their learning with minimal disruption and to
maintain safety, the redevelopment will be completed in two stages.


“The call to carry out the two-stage construction for the project is a substantial
achievement for the Gundagai community and it’s just fantastic to see this key point
being reached,” Ms Cooke said.


Excitingly, Stage 1 involves the construction of the new main preschool building and
carpark, with staff and children relocating from their existing premises to the new
building prior to the commencement of Stage two.


Stage two will see the old preschool building demolished and the construction of the
remaining planned buildings.


“On behalf of the preschool community, I would like to share my gratitude and
excitement. The new preschool project has been a long term plan for Gundagai
Preschool Kindergarten Inc. and a permanent fixture within the preschool’s strategic
plan,” Mrs Smith said.


“It has been a joint effort with many hours being clocked-up by our local member
Steph Cooke, staff at the Gundagai-Cootamundra Regional Council and the amazing
Preschool Committee both past and present to reach this milestone.”


The NSW State Government is funding the construction of the brand new community
preschool for the town which draws young children from surrounding areas.


Since 2018, Gundagai has received over $2 million in funding for the redevelopment
of the Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten, largely under the 2019 Start Strong Capital
Works Grants Program, designed to increase the number of preschool places
available in areas of need and demand.


“We want to ensure that our community has a high quality facility. A facility that is
purpose built, innovative, flexible, and provides an opportunity for quality learning
and support to children and families,” Mrs Smith said.


Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said early
childhood education is essential and this preschool will help generations of young
children grow the foundations to succeed in life.


”I’m thrilled that the new preschool in Gundagai is progressing thanks to a $1.5
million investment from the NSW Government,” Ms Mitchell added.


Ms Cooke said the new building on First Avenue, will help ensure that more children
receive superior early education services in improved facilities.


“This wonderful preschool community has outgrown the existing building, where the
much-loved preschool has been operating for over half a century. It is a new era and
such an exciting time for Gundagai,” Ms Cooke said.


In a further boost for the local community, the project will create more jobs through
the construction phase and beyond, with added flow on effects for the local
economy.


Ms Cooke said each milestone reached in this project is a tribute to the hard work of
Director Stacey Smith, the Preschool Committee and staff at the centre.


“They have worked tirelessly for years and it’s an honour to celebrate this latest
news with them.”

Rural Event Management Scholarships available!

Aspiring event managers living in rural and regional NSW are being offered the chance to get a head start in their career with applications now open to win one of six scholarships worth $6,500 each.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program was part of the NSW Government’s $6 million Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan and that in partnership with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) aspiring students could be provided the opportunity to undertake the SIT50316 Diploma of Event Management.

“We’re proud to be supporting emerging talent for the tourism and events industry from rural and regional NSW by offering these scholarships again in 2019, following a similar successful partnership with MEA in 2018,” Ms Cooke said.

“The MEA Diploma of Event Management program has been specifically designed to accommodate study by distance learning for people already working in the events industry in regional NSW.

“This initiative aims to upskill NSW rural and regional workforce in the hope that they will stay to contribute to the industry and help drive the State’s economy.

“We know how important the business events sector is to driving our local economy with conferences and meetings bringing additional business to local restaurants, cafés, venues, attractions, and accommodation providers.

“In fact, overnight business visitors spend, on average, $237 per night in NSW – nearly double those of overnight leisure visitors.

“They are also more likely to return for a future holiday with family or friends.

“These scholarships recognise the significant growth opportunity for regional destinations such as ours by securing the future talent of the industry.”

The course will be delivered via MEA’s online learning tool allowing students to complete the tasks at their own pace and in their own time.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the scholarship program supports a key strategic imperative of the NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan.

“We want to improve overall service standards in the areas of hospitality, catering, event management and audio-visual production in order to support conference delivery across rural and regional NSW by upskilling the workforce,” Mr Marshall said.

“I encourage anyone working in tourism and events who wants to further their career and contribute to the industry to consider applying.”

Applications for the scholarships program close on 24 March 2019.

To find out more information about the Diploma of Event Management and how to apply for a scholarship visit the Meet in Regional NSW website via www.meetinnsw.com.au/scholarships.