As a mum I know hard this can be, and as the Minister it is my job to make sure the NSW Government does its bit to support working families in the Northern Tablelands.

We know before and after school care services can go a long way and that’s why the NSW Government is investing $20 million for schools to establish new or upgrade existing services right across the state.

We also know the needs of the school community in Inverell are completely different to those in Glen Innes.

That’s why not-for-profit providers of out of school hours care can now receive up to $30,000 to expand or establish new services to provide flexible options for busy Northern Tablelands families.

Families need flexibility, so we are providing a versatile approach that supports not-for-profits, local councils and schools to provide more care options in Northern Tablelands.

Opening the fund to not for profit service providers means extra support to encourage community organisations to offer before and after school care and ease the burden in areas of high demand.

We are determined to help make life easier for working families and we will continue to look at new ways to better support them. Our parents expect it, and our kids deserve it.

(New South Wales Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and the Assistant Minister for Education)