Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Ministers statements: kindergarten funding

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:37): I am very pleased to provide an update on this government’s investment in kindergartens. It was my privilege to announce yesterday that six kinders will share in $8.8 million worth of funding from the Andrews Labor government to create new kinder places across metropolitan—

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Can we please have some quiet so we can hear the ministers statement? I am really interested in kindergartens, as the minister well knows, so I call the minister to start from the top without any assistance from either side, please.

Ms STITT: Thank you, Deputy President, and I note your interest in this important issue. I am very pleased to provide another update on this government’s investment in kindergartens. It was my privilege to announce yesterday that six kinders will share in $8.8 million worth of funding from the Andrews Labor government to create new kinder places across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

These Building Blocks capacity-building grants will create more than 300 new funded three- and four-year-old places, helping more families access early childhood education. $2.25 million will fund a new kindergarten as part of a brand new Alfredton community hub in Ballarat with three 33-capacity kindergarten rooms, and another $2 million will be used to deliver a new early learning facility in Drouin. These new early learning centres will create 187 extra funded places for local families across two growing communities in regional Victoria. Additionally, kindergartens in Boronia, Traralgon, Dingley Village and Cheltenham will expand their existing centres to create more than 130 new places.

These new projects are just another example of our government’s commitment to building and expanding kinders across our state, making it easier for families to access kinder programs. Overall it is estimated that we have funded more than 7500 new kinder places through the Building Blocks capacity grants since the program began. These reforms are the largest early childhood investment in our state’s history, and of course these investments are also assisting our growing communities to keep up with demand for four-year-old kinder. By improving and expanding the learning environments of our kinders, I am proud that we are giving children right across the state the ability to enjoy learning in modern, fit-for-purpose environments, giving them the very best start in life.