Thursday, 12 March 2020

Morwell families will have access to more kindergarten places thanks to a new one-stop-shop bringing together kinder, school and family services at a single location.

Minister for Education James Merlino today opened the $6.5 million integrated children’s centre which is co-located at Morwell Central Primary School.

The new facility delivers 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 Andrews Labor Government has contributed $4.9 million to the new centre which is a collaboration that includes the Colman Foundation and Goodstart.

Goodstart also contributed $1.6 million to the build, which is expected to be operational by 2020.

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

Under a Labor Government commitment, every new Victorian primary school being built will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, reducing the burden on parents and helping to build the Education State. The commitment will see more than $1.6 billion spent over the next decade to build and expand almost 1,000 kindergartens.

This is part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to provide access to a full 15 hours of universal funded Three-Year-Old Kinder to every Victorian child over this decade, with the rollout beginning in 2020.

This is about ensuring Morwell families have access to stronger support in early childhood, so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.

Quote 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 exciting project will give Morwell families access to a first-rate early years facility and help their children get the most out of kinder.”