The Andrews Labor Government is making kindergartens across Gippsland and the Dandenong Ranges more inclusive for children of all abilities, with upgrades to early childhood education centres and specialist equipment to help improve learning outcomes.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced the opening of the second round of grants in the Building Blocks Inclusion fund ─ helping kindergartens provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for every child.

Eligible kindergartens are invited to apply for grants of up to $200,000 for building or playground upgrades that make them more inclusive of children of all needs. Grants of up to $10,000 are also available for specialist equipment like mobility chairs or sensory tools for kindergarten programs.

The Building Blocks Grants program supports early childhood providers with new and existing infrastructure and facilities for eligible three and four-year-old kindergarten services.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 invested $68.5 million for early childhood education infrastructure, with $12 million allocated to fund two rounds of the Building Blocks Inclusion grants stream.

In an Australian-first, the Labor Government is investing almost $5 billion this decade to provide three-year-old children with access to an additional year of funded kindergarten programs.

From 2022, three-year-old children across the state will have access to at least five hours of kindergarten. Services will then scale up their hours to reach the full 15-hour program by 2029.

As part of this 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. To apply for the next round of the Building Blocks Inclusion grants stream funding, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt

“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood education services so our children and families can get the most out of great local kindergartens.”

“Every child deserves the best start in life, and in their education journey – that’s why we’re delivering the equipment, technology and designs our kindergartens need.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“It’s so important that all kids are included and welcomed into a wonderful local kindergarten experience, particularly as three-year old kinder rolls out around the state. This is why we are upgrading facilities across Eastern Victoria by helping kinders to buy the specialist equipment they need to provide safe, accessible, and inclusive learning environments.”