$36 million grant round opens for early childhood services
Just weeks after providing almost 100 kindergartens with $40 million in capital grants, the Victorian Coalition Government has announced another $36 million grants round.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell today said the new $36 million capital grants round would help children's services to build new early learning facilities, upgrade existing facilities and develop integrated children's services hubs.
"We have made a record $80 million investment in the Children's Capital Program, and this is the latest funding from that commitment to be open for application," Ms Lovell said.
"Our record funding is proof of the Victorian Coalition Government's dedication to providing our children with an early childhood education that's unparalleled in Victorian history.
"I encourage children's services across the state to apply and share in this latest round of funding as part of our $80 million Children's Facilities Capital Program," Ms Lovell said.
The $80 million Children's Facilities Capital Program is a combination of state funds and funds prioritised from the National Partnership on Early Childhood Education.
This latest grants round includes three grant types available to eligible organisations: an Integrated Children's Centre grant of up to $1.5 million, a New Early Learning Facility grant of up to $600,000 and an Early Learning Facility Upgrade grant of up to $300,000.
"As a government, we know just how important early childhood development is, and helping services and communities adjust to new challenges, like population growth and the move to 15 hours of kindergarten per week for four year olds as part of Universal Access," Ms Lovell said.
"The early years are such a critical time in a child's development, and it's vital that we support early learning in order to enhance a lifelong approach to education.
"We're working with early childhood service providers to deliver the next generation of children's centres and kindergarten facilities, which will give families choice and ensure that Victorian children have access to high quality learning environments," Ms Lovell said.
On May 30, the Victorian Government announced the recipients of the last $40 million funding round:
- $17.5 million to establish 15 integrated children's centres, which will combine kindergarten, playgroup, maternal and child health and other essential services in a single location for families; and
- $23 million in renovation and refurbishment grants, to extend or upgrade 82 early learning centres across Victoria.
For more information about this capital grants round, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/capitalprogram
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