Premier

New Children’s Centre Opens For Fast-Growing Point Cook

14 July 2016

Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos was joined today by Member for Altona Jill Hennessy to officially open the brand-new Saltwater Community Centre in Point Cook.

The new $7.3 million centre will offer 198 places across its three and four-year-old kindergarten programs.

Research has shown that children reap the benefits at school and beyond from two years of quality kindergarten.

Bringing family services and kindergarten under the one roof, the hub has rooms for maternal and child health consulting, playgroups, parenting groups and computer learning. The hub also includes an artist-in-residence studio, outdoor amphitheatre, and community garden and kitchen.

Saltwater Community Centre recently won two awards at the Victorian Architecture awards.

The Victorian Government contributed $1.5 million towards the new children’s hub, with the Wyndham City Council also contributing.

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $60 million to build and upgrade kindergartens and children’s centres, including a $10 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 for high-growth areas including Wyndham.

Infrastructure projects such as these ensure local children’s services have the space and flexibility they need to deliver 15 hours of kindergarten alongside a range of other vital early years programs.

The Labor Government is also delivering $83.7 million over four years to support improved educator-to-child ratios from 2016.

Families are benefitting from improved staff-to-child ratios which allow more one-on-one time for every child and boost the value they receive from time spent at kindergarten in preparation for school.

Applications for the 2016-17 Children’s Facilities Capital Program recently opened and close 12 August 2016.

Visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/funding/Pages/capitalprogram.aspxExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“The Andrews Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – which means building early years facilities to meet demand in our fastest growing communities.”

“Hubs like Saltwater, with flexible programs and meeting spaces will provide for the needs of this local community.”

Quote attributable to Member for Altona Jill Hennessy

“This new hub means Point Cook families will have access to more quality kinders, close to home.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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