Parents scattered around the Western Plains will be offered some financial reprieve following the announcement of a Preschool Drive Subsidy pilot.

Launching for the trial for the 2022 school year, parents in remote and very remote areas of NSW (as defined by the ARIA+ classifications) are eligible to have part of the transport costs of driving children to preschool subsidised in areas of low public transport. 

Former Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the subsidy will save families living remotely thousands of dollars each year.

“We want every child in NSW to have access to a quality preschool education no matter their location,” Mr Toole said. 

Out of 90 schools that will participate in the pilot, over 50 pre schools are from Western NSW, and 38 are based within the Western Plains. 

Towns with services participating include Nyngan, Marra Creek, Bourke, Burren Junction, Cobar, Collarenebri, Condobolin, Coonamble, Walgett, Lake Cargelligo, Lightning Ridge, Warren, Gulargambone and Brewarrina. 

Natasha Young from Nyngan travels an hour to drop her son Clancy to preschool.

“It’s really important to have this assistance so our rural children have access to preschool for their development,” Ms Young said. 

Eligible families will be able to claim up to 70 cents per kilometre via care and 35 cents per kilometre via boat or motorbike. 

While as few as 2.3 kilometres (walking distance) between home and the preschool is all that is required to become eligible, the subsidy is capped at a maximum distance of 50 kilometres between the home and preschool, and at 86 days per year. 

The announcement was hailed as a win by the NSW Isolated Children’s Parents Association, who have been campaigning for the subsidy for years. 

“It’s been many years in the making and we know that it is imperative that children have access to preschool to close any gaps in their learning,” said an ICPA spokesperson.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the Preschool Drive Subsidy pilot is based on the existing School Drive Subsidy, with an extra $2 million allocated to the program to make it a reality. 

“The School Drive Subsidy has proven to be effective in easing the financial burden of transport for families across regional NSW who have little or no access to public transport. Applying this formula to preschool children will offer the same benefits,” Ms Mitchell said. 

The subsidy will be available from Term 1, 2022.