Williamstown electorate education funding
Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (09:38): Kinder kids and families in the Williamstown electorate this month started the next stage in their education journey with the Andrews Labor government’s rollout of free kinder. Kinder kids in Williamstown, Newport, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Seaholme, Brooklyn, Altona and Altona North will all benefit from early childhood services being rolled out by the Labor government’s once-in-a-generation kindergarten reform of free kinder for Victoria’s three- and four-year-olds in 2023. Families enrolled in three-year-old kinder will receive between five and 15 hours of funded learning each week this year and those in four-year-old kinder will receive 15 hours per week. We know that our free kinder initiative is life changing. Not only will it save families up to $2500 each year, it also gives the Williamstown electorate parents, especially women, even more flexibility to return to work if they want. This not only gives kids the best start in life but also gives families the opportunity to make work and life balance better. Even better, they start their journey with a free kinder kit full of fun and educational toys, books and resources to help them grow and thrive through creative play. Thank you to all the teachers and the carers that put so much of their effort into making these kids’ journeys successful.