- Published:
- Monday 29 January 2018
The Andrews Labor Government is upgrading existing preschools and building new ones to create more than 3,300 new kinder places – giving more Victorian kids the first-rate early learning facilities they deserve.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today joined families at Acacia Avenue Preschool in Mentone to announce $18 million to build and upgrade facilities across the state.
The multi-million dollar investment is through the 2017-18 round of the Labor Government’s Children’s Facilities Capital (CFC) Program, and will fund 28 new projects in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The Acacia Avenue preschool has already been provided $650,000 to build a new early learning centre for local families, which will double the kinder places currently available from 54 to 99.
The Labor Government’s continued investment in early childhood infrastructure will create more than 600 four-year-old places for 2018 – with plenty more on the way.
Grants of up to $1.6 million will go towards building nine integrated children’s centres – one-stop-shops providing vital early childhood education and family services under one roof.
Grants are also being provided for new and upgraded kindergartens across Victoria.
The Labor Government is delivering a record $74 million to build, expand and upgrade early years infrastructure across Victoria to ensure local families can continue to access great local kindergartens, including $10 million targeting growth areas.
Families are also set to benefit from the Government’s $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan, which recognises the importance of providing families with strong support in early childhood.
For a list of projects funded through the CFC Program, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Quality early childhood services give our kids the best start in life – that’s why we’re building new kinders, upgrading preschools and making Victoria the Education State.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos
“As young Victorians get set to start their preschool year, we are making more kinder places available than ever before so our kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.”
Quote attributable to Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson
“We know that better quality early childhood services such as kindergarten, mean a better start in life for our kids.”