Grants to help childcare groups

BEACONSFIELD Primary School’s out of school hours care program (OSHC) has received a $4500 government grant to purchase a photocopier.
The program was just one of the local kindergartens, notforprofit childcare centres and OSHCs to receive the grant as part of the State Government’s $5.9 minor capital grants boost to assist local services in the provision of highquality services.
Cardinia Shire OSHC coordinator Maggie Farrell said as being notforprofit organisations, local OSHCs were thrilled to receive the grants they applied for late last year.
“We are very thrilled, it’s obviously going to mean we can keep our fees down,” she said.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said the grants were given to improve safety in centres as well as to buy equipment and improve their general amenity.
“I am thrilled that these grants are providing practical assistance to services that care for our children,” she said.
“Grants of up to $5000 are allowing centres to buy muchneeded appliances, to repair or replace existing furnishings such as carpet, and to install heating or cooling systems.
“They are also being used to make safer environments for children and to buy new materials such as sporting equipment to make the programs better places to learn, grow and play.”
Other grants were given to St Andrews Childcare Centre in Berwick for building renovations; Andrews Community Kindergarten in Pakenham for outdoor play equipment; Upper Beaconsfield Kindergarten for PVC blinds; Pakenham Kindergarten for heating; Beaconsfield Community Complex for whiteboards and display boards; YMCA Cardinia Life for shade sails and Berwick Kindergarten in Peel Street for a water tank, pump and equipment.