The Andrews Labor Government is delivering families in Melbourne’s growing south-east more local kindergarten places, with works starting on a new centre to deliver better kinder facilities close to home.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today celebrated works commencing on the new project, turning the first sod on the new Keysborough South Community Hub which will offer 123 places and include kindergarten for 3 to 5-year-olds and childcare for 0 to 3-year-olds.
The $21 million Community Hub is being delivered in partnership with the City of Greater Dandenong and is backed by a $3 million investment through the Labor Government’s Building Blocks capacity grant stream with a further investment of $1 million from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program to support local community needs.
Scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2024, the hub’s specialist consulting suites will accommodate Maternal and Child Health and other allied health services like physio and occupational therapy, providing easier access to the services children and parents need.
Families will also have access to parenting support programs, counselling and other essential services, with the hub including multipurpose community spaces, meeting rooms, a library, cafe and community garden.
Since it was launched in 2020, Building Blocks has provided more than $190 million to plan, build new and improve early childhood services across the state.
As part of the Victorian Budget 2023-24, the Labor Government is continuing to deliver the kindergarten infrastructure Victoria needs by investing an additional $1.2 billion for new kinders at or near government and low-fee non-government schools, alongside new and expanded kinders on local government sites.
Through the nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reform, the Labor Government is transforming early childhood education over the next decade, helping children thrive, saving families money and supporting parents, especially women, to return to the workforce.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“We’re backing local families with the first-class facilities they want and need, while ensuring the littlest Victorians get every opportunity for the best start to life.”
“Our nation leading early childhood reforms are giving more Victorian children a better start, while putting more money into the pockets of hard-working families and encouraging new parents back into the workforce.”
As stated by the Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne
“We are ensuring hardworking families across Melbourne’s growing southeast can access reliable early childhood education options.”
As stated by Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson
“Keysborough South is growing rapidly, and the new hub will meet the demand for community services, in particular early years’ children’s services and also offer a raft of activities and programs to the local community.”
As stated by Greater Dandenong City Council Mayor, Cr Eden Foster
“Supporting early years learning is essential for our growing community, which is why we’re investing in more kinder places for the education and wellbeing of Keysborough South families.”
