Premier

Building New Kinders And Supporting More Children

18 April 2018

More kinders, more integrated children’s hubs and more upgraded facilities are on the cards for Victorian families thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s latest early years infrastructure investment.

Officially opening a new children’s centre in Lucas today, Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos also kicked off the 2018-19 Children’s Facilities Capital Program Major Grants round to fund a new set of kinder projects for the state.

Local councils, not-for-profit organisations and schools are encouraged to apply for funding through three grants categories, including:

  • Up to $1.6 million to build integrated children’s centres to provide early years education and family services, including Maternal and Child Health services, playgroups and parenting support
  • Up to $650,000 to build brand-new early learning facilities to offer more kinder places and support services for local families
  • Up to $350,000 for significant upgrades to existing facilities to increase the number of kinder places or improve learning spaces

The Lucas Community Hub opened today with $1.6 million in support from the Victorian Government and $2.4 million from the City of Ballarat. Operated by YMCA Ballarat, the building offers 123 four-year-old kinder places and includes Maternal and Child Health and other consulting rooms, meeting spaces, accessible toilets, playgroup and learning spaces.

The Labor Government is providing $43 million to build, upgrade and improve early learning facilities across Victoria, as part of the Victorian Budget 2018/19. It means the Government will have funded 8,250 kinder places since 2014.

The Labor Government is delivering a record $123.6 million to build, expand and improve early years infrastructure across Victoria to ensure local families can continue to access great local kindergartens, including $10 million targeting growth areas.

Victorian families are also benefiting from the Government’s $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan, which provides strong support in early childhood so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.

Applications close on 31 July, 2018 and must be submitted online. For more information, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.auExternal Link .

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos

“We are giving Victorian kids the best start in life by investing in early years infrastructure, improving kinder programs and delivering better family services.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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