The Andrews Labor Government is providing growing Melbourne families with the early learning services they need, with new projects slated for Parkville.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today announced the Labor Government will provide $201,661 to help upgrade the Melbourne University Family Club Co-operative, which has been operating out of current facilities for almost half a century.
The funding is through this year’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program and will be used to rebuild the nursery and upgrade the flooring, as well as renovate its bathrooms.
It’s one of two local projects to be funded, with The Avenue Early Learning Centre also receiving $650,000 to construct a brand new long day care facility in Parkville. The $9.2 million centre will be able to provide 132 kindergarten and 48 long day care places.
More than 50 projects have been funded through the 2018-19 Children’s Facilities Capital Program, which delivers top class facilities – both new and upgraded – so children can make the most out of their early years education.
It comes as Labor announces its plan to build 785 new kinders and upgrade 170 more if re-elected, as part of its almost $5 billion three-year-old kinder reform.
Under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government, every Victorian child will have access to at least five hours of subsidised three-year-old kinder by 2022, progressively scaled up to 15 hours per week over the next decade.
It represents good news for families struggling with the cost of living.
Right now, many are forced to scrimp and save to cover the costs of three-year-old kinder – around $5000 a year for 15 hours – while the vast majority see their kids miss out. But under Labor’s plan, around a quarter of Victorian families will pay nothing at all.
For families with a higher income, Labor will cover 65 per cent of their child’s kindergarten costs, consistent with the current subsidy for four-year-old kinder. This represents a saving of at least $3500 for families whose children attend a standalone kinder.
This will be the largest social, economic and educational reform ever undertaken in early childhood learning in Victoria’s history.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos
“Universal access to three-year-old kinder is an Australian-first and make no mistake, this will change lives.”
“We’ve promised to rollout three-year-old kinder if re-elected and we’re backing it up, undertaking the biggest early education build our state has ever seen. Only Labor will make sure local kids in Parkville get the opportunities they deserve.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020