The Andrews Labor Government is boosting childcare services for families with young kids in Ballarat, with work starting on Girrabanya Children’s Centre upgrade.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today turned the first sod on the $1.25 million upgrade, which will expand the centre’s capacity and improve its facilities.
The upgrade will create 98 places – including 55 three and four-year-old kinder spots – almost doubling the childcare places available at Girrabanya.
It will also create 23 brand new occasional care places for local babies, toddlers and three-year-olds, as well as boost the centre’s long-day care places for toddlers and babies.
The upgraded centre will offer increased flexibility for local parents through integrated long-day and short-term care, with the option to move between the two as needed within a single facility.
Works are expected to be complete and the new facilities ready for families around July this year.
The Labor Government is delivering a record $74 million to build, expand and upgrade kinders across Victoria – to ensure local families continue to have access to great local kindergartens.
Ballarat families will also benefit from the Labor Government’s $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan, announced in the Victorian Budget 2017-18.
The ground-breaking plan recognises the importance of providing families with strong support in early childhood, so kids are ready for kinder and ready for school.
It will mean local parents can access improved parenting support and Maternal and Child Health Services, as well as higher quality and more inclusive kindergartens.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos
“Our unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria is helping children and families – including those in Ballarat – access the quality early years programs they need to thrive.”
“Quality education and care is what every young child deserves – we’re investing more to support them in these crucial stages of their life, so they’re ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“This is a significant upgrade that will make a difference to children’s lives and set them up to succeed in life.”
“We’re making Victoria the Education State and that starts with giving all young Victorians top quality facilities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020