The New South Wales (NSW) Government has denied claims by Gunnedah Shire Council that it significantly reduced the number of recipients for its school holiday program grants.
Last year, the council announced a sharp decrease in the number of grants it received under the NSW Government’s Holiday Break Program, dropping from 700 to just 100 recipients. This led the council to suggest that its unsuccessful grant application could be linked to the reduced number of recipients. In response, the council considered whether it should fund its own holiday activities moving forward.
In its recently released Cost Containment and Productivity Report for March, the council highlighted the $5,000 allocated for school holiday activities, noting that this amount had become necessary due to the claimed reduction in funding from the state government.
However, NSW Minister for Youth, Rose Jackson, refuted the council’s claims, clarifying that the number of grant recipients statewide had not been substantially reduced. The Minister explained that for the 2024-25 program, 112 organisations were supported, funding more than 800 activities across regional NSW, designed to engage young people during the school holidays.
The Holiday Break Program was launched in 2019 to assist regional communities affected by drought and was further bolstered following the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers young people in regional areas opportunities to socialise, learn new skills, and engage in recreational activities during the school breaks.
Following news that its grant application had been unsuccessful, Gunnedah Shire Council decided to allocate a $5,000 budget for summer and autumn holiday programs, half of the originally recommended $10,000. Councillors noted that the decision was made in an effort to offset the Shire’s current financial challenges and address a proposed special rate variation.
Additionally, the council raised concerns about the program’s definition of ‘youth’ as individuals aged 12 to 24, arguing that this demographic often does not engage with the types of organised activities funded by the program. In response, Minister Jackson reiterated that the program aligns with the broader NSW youth policy framework, which defines youth as ages 12 to 24, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing meaningful programs for regional youth.
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