Thursday, 30 October 2025

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:33): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting families, giving Victorian children the best start in life. This week we announced four new kindergartens on school sites to open in 2028. These new kinders will open next to Coburg North Primary School, Mickleham Primary, Wiyal primary and – Ms Bath might be interested – Yarram Primary, creating 534 additional kinder places for local families. Last week I visited Wiyal primary school in Fraser Rise with the member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins. The school is opening next year, and the principal Paris Spencer told us that there are 180 students already enrolled. She was very excited about the new kinder and said that local families will be happy to hear that a kinder will be opening in the rapidly growing community. The new school has also been beautifully built, and I am looking forward to seeing the new kinder open in 2028. Across the state our investment in kinder infrastructure on school sites is continuing to make life easier for families, saving them time during the day by removing the double drop-off.

But more importantly, these kinders are helping our littlest learners transition from kinder to school, supporting their learning and their education. Over the last 10 months I have visited numerous kinders on school sites, some already opened and operating and some to be opened next year. One of the clear themes that has come from each visit has been the dedication from school principals and service providers to work together to support our kinder kids as they move into their schooling years. It is this Labor government that continues to deliver for children and families. Every new Victorian primary school opened since 2021 has a kinder on site or next door. Between 2019 and 2025, 80 new or expanded kinders have been delivered on school sites. Just this year alone we have opened 20 kinders on school sites, and next year we will be delivering another 24. We know that there is more to do, and that is why we are continuing to invest in building new kinders where families need them most, right across our state.