Minns vows to open 100 long-day childcare centres if re-elected
The Minns government will open 100 new long-day childcare centres in areas where there is high demand and an under-supply of childcare services.
New South Wales' Labor government has announced a plan to construct 100 additional long-day childcare centers if they retain power in the upcoming March election. This announcement builds upon the previous commitment to establish 100 new preschools by January next year. The government anticipates that these initiatives will benefit approximately 8,000 families by providing 5,000 new placements at long-day childcare centers.
The new centers will be situated on existing public primary school sites and in regions identified as childcare deserts, with a focus on Western Sydney and regional NSW. Premier Chris Minns stated that the government aims to ensure that all families have the opportunity to thrive, as many are currently unable to do so due to the lack of affordable childcare options.
Deputy Premier Prue Car emphasized that the extended care hours provided by these centers will alleviate the challenges faced by parents, allowing them to return to work more easily. The government has also committed to extending the transitional funding period for community-run preschools, guaranteeing their funding for two years at the current level to maintain the quality of care.
Despite some concerns from community preschool operators about the new funding model, the government assures that they will work with the sector to ensure their continued success.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
