The Andrews Labor Government is helping families across the state to access better kindergarten services through the latest round of the Building Blocks grants – delivering hundreds of extra kinder places.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today announced $14.7 million in funding to build four new kindergartens and help four existing services expand, helping give every Victorian child the best start to life.
Kindergartens to receive significant upgrades include Kensington Community Children’s Co-Op, Rowen Street Kindergarten, Rasmussen Road Kindergarten and Bacchus Marsh Montessori Uniting Kindergarten.
Funding will also deliver new kindergartens in Frankston City, Macedon Ranges and Strathbogie Shire, using architecturally designed modular construction as well as delivering a new modular kindergarten in Altona North in partnership with the Hobsons Bay City Council.
These projects will create close to 450 free kindergarten places, helping to meet demand for our kinder reforms.
The Labor Government is delivering a nation-leading overhaul of early childhood education and care, including a massive $9 billion investment over the next decade to save families up to $2,500 per child per year and support women to return to the workforce, in addition to the $5 billion nation-leading Three-Year-Old Kindergarten reform.
Recent independent analysis from Deloitte shows that Best Start, Best Lifewillboost Victoria’s workforce by up to 24,800 full-time equivalent and increase the state’s economy by between $1.9 billion and $2.8 billion in 2032-33.
Three-Year-Old Kinder is already rolling out across the state, expanding universal access to 15 hours of government-funded kinder every week – and from next year, it will be free.
Four-Year-Old Kinder will also be free from 2023 onwards, providing much-needed relief for family budgets and giving more women a choice to return to the workforce.
With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way children develop – and making sure there are no barriers to families accessing more early play-based learning for their children.
In addition to these nation-leading reforms, and to help address the current shortage of available childcare places, the Government will build 50 government-operated and affordable childcare centres in areas that need them most.
The Labor Government is also making sure every new Victorian primary school opening from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door – building coordinated education precincts in our communities and helping families avoid the dreaded double drop-off.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“We’re committed to delivering never before seen investment in early childhood services across our state, to help our kids and their families access better quality facilities, for the best start to life.”
“Best Start, Best Life will save families $2,500 per year per child, support 24,000 mothers back into the workforce and deliver a boost of up to $2.8 billion to the Victorian economy.”
