Thursday, 9 May, 2019

Gippsland families will have access to more kindergarten places with work beginning on a one-stop-shop bringing together kinder, school and family services at a single location, due to record investment from the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Education James Merlino today turned the sod on the $6.5 million integrated children’s centre which will be co-located at Morwell Central Primary School.

The new facility, to be built by SJ Higgins, will deliver early childhood services such as three and four-year-old kindergarten, long day care, Maternal and Child Health services and multipurpose rooms for playgroups and other community activities.

Having an early learning centre at the school means drop-off times will be easier for parents of young children, while also providing greater support for children in their transition from kindergarten to school.

The Labor Government has contributed $4.9 million to the new centre which is a collaboration that includes the Colman Foundation and social enterprise, Goodstart, who has also contributed $1.6 million to the build

The kindergarten hub is expected to be operational by early 2020.

Victoria’s biggest early education build will continue over the coming years, with almost 1,000 new and upgraded kindergartens to come.

The Labor Government will invest more than $1.68 billion over the next decade to build approximately 785 new kinders and expand 170 existing services.

This is part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to deliver a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder programs to every Victorian child over the next decade, with the rollout beginning in six Local Government Areas in 2020.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Making Victoria the Education State starts with the early years, which is why we’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

 “This facility will ensure Morwell families have access to stronger support in early childhood, so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.”