The first of 100 free childcare centers, promised by the NSW government, has officially opened as part of efforts to alleviate pressure on working families.
Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool, which can accommodate 80 four-year-olds, already has 55 children enrolled. Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Carr inaugurated the center on the first day of term four in NSW.
Located on the same campus as a public school, the preschool aims to simplify life for parents with children in both preschool and primary school. “The idea is your child can go from preschool to primary school on the same site,” said Deputy Premier Carr.
This facility marks the first of the 100 free preschools pledged by the Minns government during the last election. “This was a significant election promise from the Minns government, and just 18 months into our term, we’ve delivered the first one,” Carr stated.
However, the opposition disputes the government’s claim to the project. NSW Liberal spokesperson Sarah Mitchell argued, “For them to claim this as their first of 100 preschools is a bit of a stretch; it was already in the pipeline under the previous government.”
Premier Chris Minns pushed back on that claim. “We’ve credited the previous government for projects like the metros, but when it comes to western Sydney public education, they’ll have to face the facts,” he said. Carr added, “They did not build a single public preschool while in office.”
Both political parties acknowledge the urgent need for more affordable early education. These new centers will provide children with a strong foundation for school while offering relief to families struggling with the costs of private childcare.
Construction for preschools at Blackett, Cabramatta West, and Miller Public Schools is set to begin early next year. “Every one of them will be open by day one, term one, in 2027,” Carr confirmed.
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