The Andrews Labor Government is giving more Victorian families access to affordable, high quality and convenient kinder and childcare – with the first of 50 new government-owned and operated childcare centres one step closer to opening.
In 2025, the first four of 50 childcare centres will open to children and families in Sunshine, Fawkner, Eaglehawk North and Murtoa – delivering tailored, world-class early education to our littlest learners while saving time and money for hardworking local families.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today announced the services included in the first four centres, as well as the designers of the new facilities.
The services to open in 2025 will offer childcare, Three- and Four-year-old kindergarten for more than 400 children each day – plus spaces for Maternal and Child Health and Allied Health – giving children and families a reliable hub for the services they need close to home, all located on local school sites to help ditch the double drop-off.
Brand Architects of East Melbourne has been appointed to design all four facilities, which will give the youngest Victorians a space to learn, explore and thrive during their early years.
The centres at Sunshine Primary School and Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner will each provide 130 places for local children, while Eaglehawk North Primary School near Bendigo will provide over 100 places and Murtoa College in Victoria’s west more than 50 places.
Thirty of the 50 locations have already been announced, with the final 20 to be confirmed by the end of this year, and all 50 centres be delivered by 2028.
To ensure the centres are delivered in communities with the greatest need, all locations identified consider the availability of childcare in the local area, likely future demand and socio-economic measures.
The Labor Government has invested $14 billion as part of the nation-leading Best Start, Best Life reforms. These are expanding kindergarten programs across the state – including making kinder free and giving more families access to local and affordable early childhood education and care for the best start in life for children.
To find out more about the new ELCs, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/50-early-learning-centres-victoria.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“We’re stepping in to deliver unprecedented investment in early childhood education to help our littlest Victorians and their families access quality early education and care – when and where it’s needed most.”
“These centres are the first of our 50 government-owned and operated services, which will combine quality kinder programs with much needed childcare and family services to give more children a great local early learning experience.”
