The Andrews Labor Government is helping Colac kindergartens to upgrade and improve their centres, giving every Victorian child the best start to life.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has today announced Colac’s Winifred Nance Kindergarten has joined the ranks of over 100 other Early Childhood services to benefit from the Building Blocks Improvement grant program.
Winifred Nance Kindergarten will receive $300,000 to redevelop the play space to provide a stronger focus on nature-based play, to promote imaginative open-ended child-led play, and to provide improved access for children of all abilities.
It is one of 104 services set to share in $17.7 million in funding to renovate and refurbish their centres.
Building Blocks Improvement grants of up to $500,000 are available towards an early learning facility upgrade or improvement project, providing services with funding to help them renovate and refurbish their centres.
The Labor Government is delivering an ambitious overhaul of early childhood education and care, with a massive $9 billion investment over the next decade to save families money and support women to return to the workforce.
Three-Year-Old Kinder is already rolling out across the state, expanding universal access to 15 hours of government-funded kinder every week – and from next year, it will be free.
Four-Year-Old Kinder will also be free, providing much-needed relief for family budgets and giving more women a choice to return to the workforce.
With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way children develop.
In addition to these nation-leading reforms, and to help address the current shortage of available childcare places, the Labor Government will establish 50 government-operated and affordable childcare centres in areas that need them most.
The Labor Government is also ensuring that every new Victorian primary school set to open from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, to avoid the dreaded double drop-off, reducing the burden on parents and helping build the Education State.
Visit www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/buildingblocks to apply.
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“I’m really pleased we’re helping Winifred Nance Kindergarten upgrade their infrastructure to
create a more inclusive and accessible playground.”
“This grant will ensure Winifred Nance Kindergarten have the funding they need to improve their facilities, to deliver the best educational outcomes for our young learners.”
“Kindergartens are a key part of community facilities and services, so it’s crucial that they are well provided for in terms of modern up to date equipment – I’m proud that the Andrews Labor Government is giving such strong support to Colac communities for early childhood education”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services so our children can get the most out of great local kindergartens.”
“These grants will help local councils and early childhood services across Victoria to improve their kindergartens and help set them up for the future.”