Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Early childhood education

Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (19:07): (444) I direct my adjournment debate to the Minister for Children in the other place. The action I seek is that the minister provide me with factual information about the record investment in early childhood education that this government has provided to my electorate of Hastings.

The Allan Labor government has invested over $6 billion in early childhood education. Through Best Start, Best Life we have continued our ongoing investment in our kids’ future by providing kinder services to three- and four-year-olds for free. We know that young families are doing it tough at the moment, and with this initiative they will save on average $2500 per child per family, making sure that there are no barriers to early childhood education and providing a level playing field for every Victorian family. Then kids can transition from four-year-old kinder to pre-prep, which is a universal 30-hour week program of play-based learning which will set them up for every possible success before heading into the primary school system.

It has been an absolute privilege this year to visit many local kinders across the electorate of Hastings. At one of these visits we were very lucky to have the former Premier Dan Andrews pop his head into Wonnai kindergarten in Langwarrin. Seeing these kids engage in play-based learning was awesome. It was also a great opportunity to chat with parents and educators to see how they are going. I am extremely proud to stand here as a member of the Labor government that will always be there to support every Victorian from when they are at a young age, through school and into adulthood. It is what they deserve. We will continue to get on with the job and deliver the things we say we will.