The Andrews Labor Government is helping families get their kids into early childhood learning by creating more three-and four-year-old kindergarten places across Victoria.

Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced a $2.25 million Building Blocks capacity building stream grant for the City of Ballarat to create three kinder rooms at a brand new Alfredton (Ballymanus) Community Hub.

The grant will fund the construction of three new kinder rooms in the centre, each with the capacity for 33 children undertaking three or four-year-old kinder programs.

Situated in Alfredton in the Ballymanus housing development in Ballarat’s western growth area, and with a total project cost of $8.9 million, the hub is a priority project for the City of Ballarat.

In addition to the three kinder rooms, the new facility will include a Community Hub with community meeting rooms, outdoor areas, and parking.

The three new kinder rooms, each licenced for 33 places, will enable up to 198 children to access three or four-year-old kindergarten programs throughout the week. It will help meet the increasing demand created by rapid growth in the area and ensure that local children have access to quality early years programs. The new centre will also take pressure off kinder facilities in adjoining areas.

Accessible and high-quality early education services are essential to ensure positive outcomes for children, with research showing that play-based learning is a powerful way to support children’s development.

This is one of six centres across Victoria to share in almost $10 million, getting more kids into kindergarten and ensuring they get the best start to life possible.

In an Australian-first, the Labor Government is investing almost $5 billion in three-year-old kindergarten to children across the state over this decade, with the roll-out beginning in selected areas in 2020 and expanding in 2022 to support five hours of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten statewide.

As part of this roll-out, the Victorian Government is expanding infrastructure provision through a $1.68 billion commitment to co-invest with the early childhood sector in new and expanded kindergarten facilities across the state.

The Victorian Government is also working with local councils to ensure that every new Victorian primary school set to open from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, to reduce the burden on parents and help build the Education State, including all six new primary schools which opened this year.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Investing in early childhood education is about ensuring the next generation have a bright future. Whether it’s through the building of new bricks and mortar infrastructure, or free TAFE courses to train early childhood educators, the Andrews Labor Government is supporting our littlest learners to get the best start in life.”

“This fantastic new early learning centre will make Alfredton and Lucas an even better place to raise a family. I’m delighted that we are partnering with City of Ballarat to give local kids the best opportunities to learn and be school ready, close to home. It is a huge win for children and families in our western growth area.”

Quotes attributable to Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney

“With so many young families moving into our new suburbs, particularly in our Western Growth Area, demand for kinder places and community facilities is high.  Funding support from the Victorian Government to deliver this new early years and community hub at Ballymanus in Alfredton will be warmly welcomed by local families, as it is by Council.”