St Patrick's Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) began this week, after it received a NSW Government grant of $30,000.
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The school was successful in its application for assistance under the Government's $20 million Before and After School Care Fund and it is set to make a different at St Pat's, according to OSHC project officer for Centacare Bathurst, Narelle Howard.
Under the initiative, NSW Schools were able to apply for one-off grants to help with the cost of establishing a new or expanding an existing out of school hours care service.
At Lithgow's newest service there are currently six families registered and they are hoping to grow as they are licenced to host 60 students.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said it's great news for local families as these days both parents often have full time jobs and juggling work and school commitments could be tough.
"Now the children can be looked after in a safe and caring environment and be picked up from school later in the afternoon when the working day is over," Mr Toole said.
The service operates out of St Patrick's school hall by Centacare Bathurst from Monday to Friday.
"It is a shared space, and with mobile furniture we are able to pack and set up quite promptly to allow for the school to access the space," Ms Howard said.
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Ms Howard said they are keen to fill the gap of after school care facilities within the Lithgow community.
"It's good being located here because we can feed from the school, but you don't need to attend St Patrick's to attend," she said.
Lithgow OSHC coordinator Melissa Stapleton said she has had inquiries from families that attend Wallerawang, Portland and Cooerwull.
"It's really good to be gathering some interest, because parents from all around the community work long hours and sometimes don't have a safe place for their kids," she said.
According to Ms Howard the money they were given has been used on quality equipment, toys, games, construction, art and craft supplies, white goods and kitchen electrical equipment, computers, mobile phones, signage, uniforms branding services, mobile furniture and office furniture.
"We used the majority of the money on providing quality resources including a storage and filing unit to be installed at the beginning of June, worth over $6000," she said.
"We want to make sure the children are looked after with the highest quality care we can provide."
The service operates the after school care for registered school kids aged between 5-12 from 3pm until 6pm.
During school holidays and pupil free days the service also offers vacation care from 8am until 6pm.
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