The NSW Government is providing a $150,000 lifeline to help Central Coast Community College and Tuggerah Lakes Community College weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the funding boost would help the education providers remain financially viable and accelerate development of online learning.
“This one-off grant is needed to ensure our Community Colleges can retain staff at a time when the number of students physically attending class has dropped,” Mr Crouch said.
“Community Colleges provide alternative learning pathways for students, with courses including leisure and health, beauty therapy and business administration.
“Not only are Community Colleges providers of education but they also support the NSW Government’s objective of helping vulnerable students gain a pathway to work.
“I am delighted the NSW Government is providing this funding at such a critical time.”
Central Coast Community College at Ourimbah will receive $92,547 and Tuggerah Lakes Community College at Tuggerah will receive $61,175.
Central Coast Community College CEO Joanne Martin said face-to-face training had been temporarily ceased and financial assistance in transitioning to remote delivery would be put to good use.
“Central Coast Community College is thrilled to receive this funding which will greatly assist us in continuing to operate during the COVID-19 crisis, and I would personally like to thank the NSW Government – in particular Minister Lee and Adam Crouch – for their support at such a crucial time for our sector,” Ms Martin said.
Tuggerah Lakes Community College CEO David Mackay said the grant would support delivery of vital educational services for all members of the community, including vulnerable citizens.
“This is great news and a fantastic opportunity to build adaptive and remote learning methods in response to COVID-19,” Mr Mackay said.