Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Ministers statements: early childhood education and care

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (13:47): I rise to update the house on how the Allan government is giving Victorian children the best start in life through our Building Blocks program. When it comes to children’s services, we know that we cannot operate in silos; we need a holistic approach to their delivery. Building Blocks partnerships with councils are helping to make that possible. Just yesterday I visited Jamieson Way Community Centre kindergarten with the member for Point Cook in the other place. This fabulous kinder received $2.75 million towards an expansion as part of the Building Blocks partnership with Wyndham City Council. The upgrades include a third kinder room, a larger outdoor play space and maternal and child health spaces. We had a tour of the kinder, and we met with the amazing maternal and child health nurses, who spoke to us about how the new integrated centre is already helping children and families in the Point Cook community.

Building Blocks partnerships are critical in the delivery of coordinated and, where possible, co-located services. To date, we have 18 partnerships that are helping build and upgrade 109 kinders right across Victoria. But we know there is more to do, and that is why the Building Blocks program is so important, because every child deserves to access a good and equitable education no matter their background or abilities, and the Building Blocks inclusion stream means that all Victorian kinder kids can learn and play in a modern and inclusive environment. Last week I joined the member for Ashwood in the other place on a visit to Benwerrin kinder to celebrate the kinder’s successful inclusion grant. This delightful community-run kinder has received almost $200,000 to upgrade its outdoor play areas and establish a sensory garden, making it a safer and more inclusive space for children of all abilities. Thank you to the educators Mel and Toni for sharing the plans for the upgrade with us and introducing us to the children who will benefit from this new and more inclusive environment.

Since 2020 the Building Blocks inclusion grants program has made a difference for thousands of children and families, with 204 infrastructure projects funded, including playgrounds, and 1087 equipment projects. While those opposite want to charge Victorian families for children accessing kinder, our government is investing in families. We are delivering the building blocks to give our littlest learners the best start in life and we are funding the projects that will do it.