Free preschool is now a staple for NSW families with funding confirmed in the 2021/22 NSW Budget for community and mobile preschools.
The new Start Strong Free Preschool program will replace the current COVID-19 Free Preschool Funding program that has been supporting families since the beginning of the pandemic.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has continued to support families and children over the past two years.
“We have supported local families by reducing the financial pressures during the pandemic,” Ms Cooke said.
“This is a great initiative, I am thrilled to know our government will continue to fund free preschool. This program is supporting more than 45,000 eligible children, keeping our children learning and engaged during some of their most formative years.”
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said that early childhood education is a vital part of development and preparation, especially in the two years before school.
“This is an $150 million investment in our children’s futures, as we know the first 2,000 days of a child’s life are crucial and those who experience the benefit of early childhood education grow up to lead happier, healthier and more productive lives,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This program allows families to save up to $4,000 per year per child in preschool fees, easing the cost of living pressures and helping families with work life balance.”
We are committed to families; this budget includes $725 million direct investment into Early Childhood Education to help parents support their children during some of their most important years.
Up to 740 community preschools will benefit from this important investment across the state.
A record government investment in child and adolescent mental health will ensure hundreds of children and teenagers across the Cootamundra electorate will have access to specialised care.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the funding for 25 Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams and said they will be a vital addition to communities across the region.
“The new multidisciplinary teams will be established across the state, providing rapid and flexible community care responses to children and adolescents in acute mental health distress.” Ms Cooke said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor announced the specialist child and adolescent mental health teams would be running in every Local Health District within the next four years.
“We’re committed to improving the health and safety of our young people and these teams will be on hand 7 days a week to respond to acute cases and make sure those families are supported during this time of need and after,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is a game changer in addressing mental health for children and teenagers.
It’s all about bringing the right care at the right time and in the right place to children, adolescents and their loved ones,” said Mrs Taylor.
Mrs Taylor said the ‘Safeguards’ teams will provide community based support to help children, teens and their families coordinate all aspects of their care.
“These clinicians will work with patients and their families over days, weeks or even months, providing wraparound support at home and school, as well as facilitating access to follow-up care as required.”
“The objective is to get these kids better before things worsen, or if needed, transition them into longer term mental health community based supports.”
Skilled child and adolescent mental health clinicians will also help families in coordinating other aspects of their children’s mental health needs by linking them with appropriate services as needed such as GPs, private psychiatrists, headspace centres, education and vocational supports, NDIS providers, youth organisations or other needs such as housing providers.
The 2021/22 NSW Budget has locked-in funding to progress vital Health Infrastructure projects in the broader Cowra region including the Cowra Hospital redevelopment and a new HealthOne facility for Canowindra.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has welcomed $2.3 million (as part of a $70.2 million project) locked in for the Cowra Hospital redevelopment,
In addition, $6 million in funding to establish the Canowindra HealthOne facility, with an initial allocation of $500,000 in this year’s Budget.
“I am delighted this year’s Budget sees ongoing investment in Health Infrastructure projects for the Cowra region,” Ms Cooke said.
“This includes funding to ensure the Cowra Hospital redevelopment progresses, with a refreshed Cowra Clinical Services Plan having recently been signed off by the Ministry of Health.”
This will allow the next steps in planning to progress.
“It is fantastic we will also see an enhancement of current health services on offer in Canowindra, which is an issue Cabonne Shire Council has raised with both myself and Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard.”
“A workshop will be held next week with local stakeholders including members of Cabonne Council, Western NSW Local Health District, the Rural Doctors Network and Western NSW Primary Health Network,” Ms Cooke said.
These Health Infrastructure announcements for the Cowra region follow an earlier Budget announcement of a new Regional Family Care Centre for Cowra, as part of a $12.2 million investment to increase specialised support for young families across regional NSW through Tresillian and the Gidget Foundation.
The NSW Nationals in Government have delivered vital funding in the 2021-22 NSW Budget to support the recovery and future prosperity of regional communities following drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the seat of small communities is set to benefit from continued investment in regional New South Wales, to create a safer and stronger future.
“The 2021-22 NSW Budget sees continued delivery in the regions thanks to the NSW Nationals in Government,” Ms Cooke said.
“This includes crucial investment to improve our road and rail networks, to support jobs growth and economic stimulus, and to strengthen our health and education infrastructure.”
“This year’s Budget is about ensuring regional communities are given every opportunity possible to thrive.”
Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals John Barilaro said more jobs and infrastructure builds will be delivered through the 2021-22 NSW Budget, to help our regions move through recovery and build on the benefits of regional living.
“Off the back of devastating drought, bushfires and floods, there has never been a more crucial time to support regional NSW by providing job opportunities, new and improved infrastructure and community-backed projects,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This budget has a strong focus on job creating infrastructure builds to ensure local economies remain strong and regional NSW continues to be a fantastic place to live and work. This is the NSW Nationals in Government delivering for our regions.”
Local highlights from the 2021-22 NSW Budget include;
- $99.4 million for works on the Newell Highway, which includes $3 million for flood mitigation between West Wyalong and Forbes;
- $2.3 million in 2021-22 (as part of a $70.2 million project) for the Cowra Hospital Redevelopment;
- $6 million announcement for the establishment of the Canowindra HealthOne medical facility;
- $300,000 to restore the grandstand at Cootamundra Racecourse;
- $300,000 for upgrades at West Wyalong Aerodrome;
- A new Family Care Centre for Cowra, and another to be located at Griffith as part of a $12.2 million investment with Tresillian and the Gidget Foundation;
- $13.7 million to continue works on the joint-use library and community facility at Young;
- An additional $1.2 million for social housing upgrades;
- Funding to progress early works associated with the Wyangala Dam wall raising project.
Other highlights from the 2021-22 NSW Budget include;
- Free Preschool is here to stay;
- Crucial investment in mental health support, including new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams;
- $100,000 boost to the annual Community Building Partnership Program, taking it to $400,000 per electorate;
- Learn to Swim vouchers – $100 voucher for swimming lessons available to every pre-school child aged three to six in NSW, redeemable through registered providers;
- Extension of the Regional Seniors Travel Card for another two years.
For more information please go to budget.nsw.gov.au
New parents across the region will have access to increased specialised support thanks to funding to enable Tresillian and Gidget Foundation Australia to open a new Regional Family Care Centre in Cowra.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP welcomed the announcement and said the Centre would be a vital addition to local support services and programs.
“Caring for a newborn doesn’t always go as expected and this new Centre will provide crucial expert care for mum, dad and bub when the going gets tough,” Ms Cooke said.
“We want parents across the Cowra region and further afield to feel supported to give them and their child the best start in life.”
“The stand alone Centre will provide day services to young families including individual consultations and parent education programs.”
Ms Cooke said the Centre is an exciting first step, with the campaign for a Tresillian Residential Unit as part of the Cowra Hospital redevelopment set to continue.
“It is fantastic to have this new Centre locked in, and I will continue to fight for a Tresillian Residential facility as part of the Cowra Hospital redevelopment, as a natural extension of Tresillian day services.”
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the local centre would benefit the whole community.
“We know that up to 50 per cent of mums whose babies have sleeping or feeding issues, suffer from post-natal anxiety and depression. This centre will have Tresillian nurses and a Gidget Foundation mental health clinician working together to help the baby and parents,” Mrs Taylor said.
“I know how difficult it can be adjusting to life with a newborn and having services like this close to home really will be life changing for local families.”
The 6 new Regional Family Care Centres will be located in Goulburn, Grafton, Armidale, Griffith, Cowra and Muswellbrook. They will complement the existing centres in Queanbeyan, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Taree and Broken Hill, which have provided more than 14,000 services to families in the past two years.
Purpose-built Tresillian2U vans will also travel to local communities from their bases in Kempsey, Tweed, Bathurst, Queanbeyan and Inverell and will offer further personalised care and support.
Tresillian is the largest early parenting service in Australia, providing advice, support and evidence-based programs to families in the early years as well as leadership and support for other agencies and organisations.
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that helps new and expectant parents to receive specialist care through a range of programs, including face-to-face and telehealth psychological counselling by experienced perinatal clinicians.
New parents in the Narrandera and Bland Shires will have access to increased specialised support thanks to funding to enable Tresillian and Gidget Foundation Australia to open a new Regional Family Care Centre in Griffith.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the Centre and said it would be a vital addition to local support services and programs.
“Caring for a newborn doesn’t always go as expected and this Centre will provide crucial expert care for mum, dad and bub when the going gets tough,” Ms Cooke said.
“We want parents right across the Narrandera and Bland Shires to feel supported to give them and their child the best start in life.”
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the local centre would benefit the whole community.
“We know that up to 50 per cent of mums whose babies have sleeping or feeding issues, suffer from post-natal anxiety and depression. This centre will have Tresillian nurses and a Gidget Foundation mental health clinician working together to help the baby and parents,” Mrs Taylor said.
“I know how difficult it can be adjusting to life with a newborn and having services like this close to home really will be life changing for local families.”
The 6 new Regional Family Care Centres will be located in Goulburn, Grafton, Armidale, Griffith, Cowra and Muswellbrook. They will complement the existing centres in Queanbeyan, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Taree and Broken Hill, which have provided more than 14,000 services to families in the past two years.
Purpose-built Tresillian2U vans will also travel to local communities from their bases in Kempsey, Tweed, Bathurst, Queanbeyan and Inverell and will offer further personalised care and support.
Tresillian is the largest early parenting service in Australia, providing advice, support and evidence-based programs to families in the early years as well as leadership and support for other agencies and organisations.
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that helps new and expectant parents to receive specialist care through a range of programs, including face-to-face and telehealth psychological counselling by experienced perinatal clinicians.