Our littlest learners in Warrnambool are going to get the best possible start to life with improved kindergarten infrastructure, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt and Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney today announced Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative successfully secured $150,000 in Building Blocks Planning Grants to put towards planning, design and pre-construction work on kindergarten building projects.
The grant will allow Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative to conduct a Planning Phase to develop an approved purpose built, culturally innovative designed Early Years Learning Child and Family Centre that will be a special place of gathering and available for all local children to attend, with priority access to Aboriginal children and families.
The proposed centre will deliver culturally safe and inclusive integrated early learning, culturally programs offering long day care and three-and four-year-old kindergarten in readiness for school entry.
The Planning Grant program is designed to help cover costs incurred from pre-construction planning – including scope development, design, soil investigations and costing – of projects that help achieve capacity for Three-Year-Old Kindergarten Reform.
Grants support applicants to prepare a project in readiness of seeking future Building Blocks Capacity Grant funding.
In the announcement of a generation, from 2023 families with a three- or four-year-old will pay nothing for kinder – a saving of up to $2,500 per child every year. The Labor Government has expanded the Best Start, Best Life program with three major new initiatives:
- Making kinder free across the state
- Delivering a new year of universal Pre-Prep for 4-year-olds
- Establishing 50 government operated childcare centres
Over the next decade, Four-Year-Old Kinder will transition to Pre-Prep – increasing to a universal 30-hour a week program of play-based learning for every four-year-old child in Victoria.
As part of the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kinder, the Labor Government is expanding infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector in new and expanded kindergarten facilities across the state.
Building Blocks grants aim to streamline all pre-existing kindergarten infrastructure grants into one overarching program and provide increased state funding contributions for early childhood projects.
For more information, visit https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/building-blocks-grants-planning
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“This latest round of grants will help Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative bring to life exciting plans for a new Early Years Learning Child and Family Centre, ensuring we can provide the best start to Warrnambool’s littlest learners.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt
“We’ve just announced the biggest investment in early childhood education in a lifetime, something that I’m so proud to say will change lives and ensure that every Victorian child has the best possible start to life.”