Child care boost

By Bridget Cook
CHILDREN’S services in Casey received a funding boost last week for toys, books and grants for minor works.
The State Government has provided $1.5 million of funding for grants and kits to help occasional care, family day care and outside school hours care programs comply with new regulations.
Under the new regulations these programs are required to be licensed for the first time.
Narre Warren South Labor MP Judith Graley said she was thrilled local services were successful in accessing the aid.
“These kits and grants are about supporting these services with high-quality resources for the children in their programs as they transition,” Ms Graley said.
“Local recipients will receive up to $4300 and that will be provided as either a grant for minor works, resource kits or a combination of both.”
The resource kits range from a selection of high-quality toys, musical instruments, puzzles, books and music CDs to health and nutrition information for carers, including cooking activities to do with children and healthy food toys.
The grants will be used by service providers to upgrade equipment to support the delivery of quality educational or recreational programs.
“Many families use these services locally so it is great that through these resource kits children will have access to new educational toys and through the grants, better facilities,” Ms Graley said.
Local recipients include Camp Australia Berwick Lodge OSHC, Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, Hillsmeade Primary School, Hampton Park Care Group and Windermere Child and Family Services.