FEDERAL Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan says an allocation of $2.3m will help improve access to child care and increase workforce participation across the Cowper electorate.

He said 17 services will receive the funding through the Federal Government’s Community Child Care Fund (CCCF).

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The funding will help local child care services improve access to quality care across the electorate.

“It will be good for our local kids, good for our hard-working families and ultimately for our community,” Mr Conaghan said.

“It will also have a positive economic benefit by allowing more local parents to get back into work or to take on additional hours if they choose.

“The funds will support services in areas such as Greenhill, Aldavilla, Frederickton, Urunga, Macksville and Coffs Harbour that may need support to keep operating, or to fund capital projects to improve services and increase the number of places available.”

More than 640 child care services around Australia would share in more than $100 million through the program.

The program also helps services to run initiatives that reduce barriers which may otherwise prevent local kids from accessing care.

The Federal Government is investing around $10 billion in child care this year to support around 1 million families.

The Budget delivered further support to reduce the out of pocket costs for parents with multiple children aged under six in care and a commitment to a $2 billion preschool funding agreement for access to early learning for all children in the year before school.

More information on the Community Child Care Fund can be found on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website at https://www.dese.gov.au/child-care-package/child-care-safety-net/community-child-care-fund/community-child-care-fund-open-competitive-grant-opportunity.

See below for a list of local recipients:

Coffs Harbour: Caterpillar House Occasional Child Care Association Inc, $163,220

Boambee East: Hopscotch Boambee Pre-School, $193,304

Coffs Harbour: Coffs Harbour & District Family Day Care Scheme Inc, $134,704

Nambucca Heads: Nambucca Valley Children’s Group Inc, $130,000

Macksville: Nambucca Valley Children’s Group Inc, $207,520

Urunga: Stepping Stones Preschool and Child Care Centre, $200,000

Nambucca Heads: Teddy Bears Kindergarten Pty Limited, $189,150

Bellingen: OAC Bellingen Out of School Hours Care, $120,000

Urunga: OAC Urunga Out of School Hours Care, $120,000

Urunga: Open Arms Care Inc. Family Day Care, $129,817