The Andrews Labor Government is delivering more kinder places in Melbourne’s growing western suburbs, saving local families time and money with better access to great kinder services, close to home.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today announced the redevelopment of Epalock Crescent Kindergarten in St Albans, with a $2 million investment to deliver a new two-room kindergarten on the current site, offering 33 new licensed places for children enrolled in Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs.
Delivering local families better access to modern facilities, the redevelopment is the latest project to be announced as part of a $13.3 million partnership with the City of Brimbank, giving local children the best start in life.
The partnership will deliver six new and expanded kindergartens, providing more than 440 funded kindergarten places to support local families.
With the existing kindergarten set to be demolished at the end of 2023 to allow building work to begin in 2024, all children enrolled at Epalock Crescent Kindergarten will be offered a place at a nearby centre to support their continued learning. The new facility is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Since 2021, the Labor Government’s Building Blocks initiative has supported partnerships with 10 local councils, delivering 68 new and expanded kindergartens and creating more than 9,250 new kinder places across the state.
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.
The Labor Government has also committed $584 million to build and run 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres in the communities that need them most.
With 30 locations already announced, including one in King’s Park, growing families can look forward to more kindergarten and childcare options in their local area by 2028.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“We’re giving local families in Melbourne’s growing western suburbs access to a great kinder close to home, with this latest project delivering more opportunities for local children to get the best start in life.”
“With hundreds of new and expanded kindergartens opening across the state, more Victorian families will have access to the high-quality kindergarten services they deserve.”
As stated by Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
“We’re proud to be making sure our smallest St Albans residents have access to high-quality learning facilities to play, learn and grow in.”
