Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton pictured with Coolah Preschool Kindergarten administration officer Fiona Morse, committee secretary Rebecca Cavanagh, director Kirsty Arnott and three-year-old Eloise Cavanagh, who will start preschool next year.

Children in Coolah will have access to important occupational therapy equipment thanks to a $4,487 Federal Government grant for Coolah Preschool Kindergarten.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today visited the preschool to take a look at the equipment, funded under Round 6 of the Coalition Government’s Stronger Communities Programme (SCP).

“I am incredibly pleased to help such a wonderful community organisation like the Coolah Preschool to purchase a suspension frame and crash mats for its Engine Room,” Mr Coulton said.

“The Engine Room is a multi-purpose sensory space connected to the preschool, which will be a valuable asset for the entire Coolah community when it opens next year.

“Not-for-profit organisations in the Parkes electorate are pivotal to our local communities, and this program certainly goes some way to supporting them and the terrific work they do.”

Coolah Preschool Director Kirsty Arnott said the Engine Room will not only benefit local preschoolers, but will help attract visiting therapists to Coolah so that families won’t have to travel out of town to access these services.

“If you build it, they will come,” Mrs Arnott said.

“We wanted to set up a space that was purpose built to provide therapeutic care for perschoolers with additional needs, also enabling the delivery of therapy services to the wider community, removing the barriers of accessing treatment due to the cost and distance of travel.

“This space will be used by our preschool children, visiting therapists and as a meeting place for the community.”

The Stronger Communities Programme provides each electorate with $150,000 to fund small capital projects.

An additional $28.2 million was provided in the 2021-22 Budget to extend the Stronger Communities Programme to a seventh round, which has just closed. More information about the SCP is available at www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Stronger-Communities-Programme.