Thursday, September 3, 2020

The Andrews Labor Government is repairing, expanding and building new kinders so every child can access Three-Year-Old kinder as the ground-breaking program rolls out across the state.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced that the Victorian Government would contribute $600,000 towards a $754,000 expansion of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Early Learning Centre. The project will involve refurbishing the existing primary school administration to expand the capacity of the early learning centre.

This project is part of 13 projects across Victoria that Minister for Education James Merlino announced will share in more than $13.8 million in first round of grants under the Building Blocks program.

The funding will deliver an integrated children’s centre, three new early learning facilities, two modular buildings, and seven kindergarten expansions across Mitchell Shire, Corangamite Shire and Wodonga City Council.

Together the projects will create new kinder places, as well as boosting local jobs and local businesses as these areas rebuild from the economic impacts of coronavirus.

The Building Blocks program creates additional places – well as improving facilities and access to technology – for Three and Four-Year-old Kinder providers across Victoria.

Grants are available to local governments and not-for-profit organisations delivering a funded kindergarten program.

This is part of the Labor Government’s $5 billion investment in funded universal Three-Year-Old Kinder for all Victorian children – in an Australian-first.

The reform has started in six regional local government areas in 2020, with families in a further 15 regional LGAs to benefit in 2021.

As part of the roll-out, the Government is upgrading infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector to build and expand kindergarten facilities across the state.

Applications for the Building Blocks capacity building stream are open year-round. To apply, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/buildingblocks.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“These projects will not only ensure these kinders are ready for the roll out of Three-Year-Old kinder – they will boost regional jobs and local businesses as we rebuild from the economic impacts of coronavirus.”

“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services so our children can get the most out of great local kindergartens and set them up for the future.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“The expansion of the ELC at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School will help to boost local jobs and businesses.”

“On top of the $4,857,902 already provided by the Andrews Labor Government for early childhood infrastructure in the Narracan electorate, this project will help prepare Baw Baw Shire for the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kinder in 2022.”