The Andrews Labor Government is investing in the future of Ballarat kids with more kinder places in the region.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos visited the area today to meet with families and staff from early childhood services, and officially open two new capital projects.
Ms Mikakos was joined by Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard, to cut the ribbon on the $1.4 million Phoenix P-12 Community College’s Early Learning Centre. She also opened the $199,447 Cardigan Village Community Centre extension.
Both kinders have been upgraded to increase places, funded by the Victorian Government in partnership with community organisations and the City of Ballarat.
The Andrew Labor Government is securing the future of around 100 rural kinders across Victoria, including regions like Ballarat, with a funding boost of $4.4 million in the Victorian Budget 2016/17.
More kinder places will be available to the families of Ballarat with the Labor Government’s funding of an extension to the Iris Ramsay Kindergarten.
The build for the Bonshaw Early Learning Centre will start soon, which will bring a kindergarten, maternal child and health services and room for playgroups under one roof. These projects will be completed in 2017.
The Labor Government has recently opened the latest funding round for kindergarten infrastructure, and is urging local councils and service providers to apply for grants to develop modern early childhood centres in the area.
The Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – and this means giving all kids access to high-quality early years services no matter where they live.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“In the Education State, no child should miss out on quality kindergarten just because they live outside of a metropolitan area.”
“It’s a pleasure to speak with local Ballarat families about the benefits the Andrews Labor Government’s support for early childhood education will bring to its youngest residents.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“This project means that families in the Sebastopol area have a great new facility that provides kids with a continuous pathway through the Phoenix K-12 program.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020