Wednesday, 29 November 2023

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:27): I rise to update the house on the completion of construction of a new kindergarten facility in Mount Duneed. Our government supported the project with $2.25 million in funding through the Building Blocks capacity-building grant stream, which provides funding for projects creating additional kindergarten spaces. The new kinder is based in the City of Greater Geelong’s Poa Banyul community hub. My colleague in the other place the member for South Barwon, also Parliamentary Secretary for Education, and I had the honour of opening this facility last week.

This is a one-stop shop for the residents of Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek West. The integrated facility provides a valuable connection to a range of early years and family services. Local families can access free kinder and free maternal and child health services in one place. The hub also has family support consulting rooms, a parents lounge and versatile community spaces for playgroups and other programs. The new kindergarten has created 66 additional places for three- and four-year-olds, increasing early learning opportunities for this very fast growing community.

Expanding Victoria’s kindergarten network is critical to supporting our nation-leading Best Start, Best Life early childhood reforms, and these reforms are the most significant in a generation. We are giving Victorian children, regardless of their circumstances, access to two years of quality kinder before they start primary school. In addition to supporting local governments with the expansion of their kinder services, the Allan government is building 50 new early learning centres across Victoria. These government-owned and government-run centres will be built in communities that have the greatest need for more childcare and kindergarten places. Where possible we will locate the centres at or alongside schools, hospitals, TAFEs, maternal and child health services and playgroups, because we understand the benefit to families that connectivity brings.

Since the Best Start, Best Life reform was announced in June 2022 our government has not stopped delivering on this commitment. Whether it be free kinder, pre-prep, three-year-old kinder or our 50 ‍government owned and operated early learning centres, we are delivering for our littlest Victorians right across our state.