Putting fun in funding: new equipment for Carinya

The centre received $7798.11 under the Quality Learning Environments program which has been used to purchase new play equipment for their Under 3 age group.

Cowra Early Childhood Services Director, Susan Callaghan, said the funding was fantastic news.

"It supports our budget, we probably wouldn't have bought that equipment without it," she said.

"There's just not a lot of excess money in the budget, so we've targeted our Under 3s with the equipment we've chosen this time.

"We've already got some monkey bars and we are getting some more obstacle course equipment, timber boxes, ladder and the like, to extend the children's gross motor skills, coordination and upper body strength."

Ms Callaghan said those skills were an important part of children's early development.

"It's really important in the early childhood years they build those skills," she said.

"Upper body strength is really important at this age to then help with writing and drawing as they get older, so we focus a lot on that.

"Even just their spatial awareness helps, to understand where they are within space and to manage their own bodies."

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, who presented the funds to the centre on Monday, said it was fantastic to supporting the community's youngest residents.

"It's pleasing that I'm here today to award the preschool just under $8000 to continue investing in the latest outdoor equipment," she said.

"Equipment that is safe for use and age appropriate, it's good to see how far we've come in relation to the development and availability of affordable equipment for preschools and for all abilities.

"I'm looking forward to seeing that entire space come together with all the pieces of equipment being invested in and looking forward to seeing the lives of these young people being improved through this type of investment."

She said the centre was a great asset to the community and helped provide fantastic opportunities for children and their families.

"Carinya do a fantastic job here in the local community, it's a hub for so many children and families from Cowra and the surrounding districts," she said.

"The mobile service they offer is absolutely incredible for our smaller communities and so it's a real privilege to return here.

"It's important as a government we continue to support services like Carinya, we need our kids to get off to the best possible start in life."