Gippsland’s young families are set to benefit as Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria Region today congratulated the eighteen of Gippsland kindergartens and childcare centres to receive the Andrews Labor Government’s minor infrastructure and IT grants.

A total of $1.22 million in grants will assist kinders across Victoria upgrade their facilities and IT.

The Gippsland services are set to receive $96,346 in funding, as part of the 2016-17 Children’s Facilities Capital Program.

These grants mean Victoria’s early years teachers and educators are supported, and that more children have access to high-quality early learning services.

The grants of up to $25,000 will help kinders and childcare centres enlarge their classrooms help accommodate the improved educator-to-child ratios, introduced earlier this year.

Nine Gippsland kindergartens and childcare centres are receiving grants of up to $10,000, for playground upgrades and refurbishments. They can be used to improve access for children of all abilities.

Grants of up to $1,500 will help another nine local kindergartens to upgrade their IT, with new laptops, tablets and other digital hardware to support learning programs and administration.

The grants are part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $60 million investment in the early childhood sector through the building and upgrading of kindergartens and children’s centres.

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

The Andrews Labor Government making Victoria the Education State – and this begins with giving every child a strong start in life.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“We’re making Victoria the Education State, and it begins with giving every child the best start in life. We want all Victorian kids to reap the rewards of a first-rate early years education.”

“These grants are a win for Gippsland families; kindergartens do a great job of preparing kids for school. We’re giving them the facilities and resources they need.”