Stuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith joined Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell at Little Joeys Preschool Cambridge Park to meet with two local recipients of NSW Government Early Childhood Education Scholarships.

Stuart Ayres said Chloe and Sarah who both work at Little Joeys join more than 1,000 aspiring early childhood educators in NSW who are on their way to a rewarding career supporting the state’s littlest learners.

“I commend and thank Chloe and Sarah for choosing early childhood education as a profession, their work is invaluable.”

Thanks to the NSW Government’s record investment in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workforce, more than 18,000 early childhood educators and teachers will be supported over the next four years.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is investing $281.6 million to expand the early childhood workforce, allowing families with young children to have increased access to quality early childhood education and care services across the state.

“We want to build a stronger and brighter future for NSW families, and we know that building our early childhood workforce is a no-brainer,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Scholarship recipients are supported with financial costs that come with deepening their understanding of early childhood environments and gain additional skills and capabilities.

The scholarships are part of the NSW Government’s once in a generation reform of the early childhood sector, with more than $15.9 billion invested through the Early Years Commitment.

The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade.

Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.

Further details on the Early Years Commitment visit the Department of Education’s website https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/early-years-commitment