Moree, Kiah and Grace Lutheran Preschools are three out of 24 preschools in the region that will receive payment that will help to improve access to preschool for children in remote and rural areas. 

The preschools can use the funding to develop information resources to support parents in accessing and engaging with the preschool, engage with the local Aboriginal community to encourage preschool participation, establish partnerships with local schools, councils or bus providers, to provide transport to preschool for local children or provide IT skills training to preschool staff to increase the online presence of the preschool. 

Pamela Campbell has been director of Moree Preschool for over 18 years and knows that preschool is important. 

“Research shows that children that go to preschool end up with better educational, social and development outcomes. Ideally they should be at preschool by the time they are three. It’s a really great stepping stone in to school,” she said. 

Mrs Campbell didn’t have to lodge an application for the funding, just accept it from State Government. 

She admitted that the criteria on how to spend the $7000 were very strict. 

“We are looking at sending out postcards to the community about how important it is to have your children attend pre-school. It’s all about increasing that awareness of preschool and how important it is enrolling your children.

“Its great getting that little injection from the government because once you lose a service it’s hard to get it back.”

The postcard will include why preschool is important, how to get to a preschool, how to contact Moree Preschool and what Moree Preschool is all about.

“Once we find out the costs we can see if we can do more with the $7000.

“I said to Mr Marshall that the funding is a bit of a band aid because depending on what you want to do with the money it’s not necessarily sustainable. That’s why we looked at postcards so we can send them out each year.”

Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, said this is a great opportunity for Moree’s preschools and outreach services. This funding will be put to very good use to advantage students throughout Moree and the region. 

"The aim of the initiative is to ensure children who are located in rural and remote areas are able to access quality early childhood education,” he said. 

“We have long recognised that students achieve better results if they attend preschool before they enrol at a primary school level.”

This program was part of the rural and remote education blueprint. It is designed to support preschools' outreach initiatives, improving engagement and universal access for hard to reach and vulnerable children in these areas.

"Each preschool will now decide how to best use the funding to achieve the desired outcome. They may focus on providing transport for students or encourage parents to send their children to school through outreach information events."