Friday 11^th September 2020

The Victorian Government is investing in the future of children giving 784 kindergartens almost $1.1 million in technology grants to help give three and four-year-olds the skills they need.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced that eleven kindergartens in Cardinia and Yarra Ranges will receive funding through the Building Blocks IT grants program to purchase essential IT equipment to support and improve their learning environment.

The following kindergartens will receive funding:

• Seville Preschool
• Cire Children’s Service and Kindergarten, Chirnside Park
• Rolling Hills Kindergarten
• Cire Children’s Service, Mount Evelyn
• Lilydale North Pre-School
• Beaconsfield Kindergarten
• Hollins Children’s Centre
• Pakenham Heights Kindergarten
• Upper Beaconsfield Kindergarten
• Upper Beaconsfield Preschool
• Bridgewood Integrated Child and Family Centre

The Victorian Government will fund 784 kindergartens in 2020/21 for the latest technology from laptops, iPads to smart TVs to deliver early childhood education curriculum and service administration.

The Building Blocks program supports early childhood providers streamlining grants for infrastructure projects to increase capacity, modernising early learning facilities, creating inclusive kindergarten settings and delivering IT devices to eligible services – all to assist in the roll-out of funded universal Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.

Grants have been given to projects designed to improve existing early learning facilities and continue to support early childhood education improve the condition, suitability and IT capability of kindergarten services.

In an Australian-first, the Victorian Government is investing $5 billion over this decade to deliver two years of funded kindergarten for all Victorian children, with the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten already underway this year.

The technology grants are part of the Victorian Government’s further $27.7 million investment in Building Blocks to continue the support provided to meet Four-Year-Old Kindergarten demand, upgrade the condition of existing early learning facilities and ensure kindergartens are equipped with the latest technology devices.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

 “It is crucial that early childhood education providers have the technology they need to deliver the best possible education outcomes.”

 “Kindergarten providers in Cardinia and Yarra Ranges are equipping the next generation of students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a technological age, while offering local children access to best practice learning.”