Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Point Cook electorate kindergartens

Mathew HILAKARI (Point Cook) (19:10): (264) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, and it concerns early childhood education. Minister, how is the Victorian Labor government supporting our children and families in kindergartens in the electorate of Point Cook? I invite you to join me to visit a kindergarten in the electorate. Recently I have had the pleasure of visiting many local early childhood centres within the community, such as Creative Garden Early Learning Point Cook; Goodstart Point Cook, which the minister has actually already attended, and I thank her for her visit at that time and the wonderful artwork from the children there; as well as the exceptional Guardian kinders in the south and east of Point Cook.

Research of course tells us that 90 per cent of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of five, and that is why high-quality, play-based education is critical for the development of life skills and for the future of our children and their education. Thanks to the government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms, kindergartens in the electorate of Point Cook will be providing free three- and four-year-old kinder for up to 15 hours a week. It helps families. It helps with the cost of living, and that is up to $2500 per year. By removing the cost barrier to early education, we are also supporting primary carers, predominantly women, to make the choice to return to the workforce if they wish.

We are also seeing in the kinders that I have visited so far updates to people’s education certificates and diplomas as they upskill on the job. It is a great thing that is going on in the education sector locally. I would appreciate any further information that the minister can provide on how the Andrews Labor government is supporting early childhood learning right across Point Cook, and I look forward to a visit from the minister to accompany me to an early childhood learning centre.