Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand talks with Caelan at the opening of extensions to the Yooralla-run Narre Warren Children’s Centre this week.
By Kelly Yates
RENOVATION works at a Narre Warren children’s centre worth $430,000 were unveiled this week.
Families in the City of Casey, particularly those with children with a disability, will benefit from the expansion of the Yooralla-run Narre Warren Children’s Centre, thanks to a $250,000 State Government grant.
The centre provides early childhood intervention services such as speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and specialist teaching to more than 120 children.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand opened the multi-purpose playroom on Tuesday, saying the government was taking action to give Victorian children the best start in life by providing families with a comprehensive range of early childhood services.
The additional playroom will incorporate an indoor-outdoor courtyard, new room for parent counselling, a parent resource library and toilet amenities.
The improvements to the centre mean that the services as part of the program can be run from one site, according to Yooralla communications co-ordinator Julie Yorke.
“The new playroom means that programs can be run concurrently, giving more children and families access to the support and services that they need,” she said.
Program co-ordinator Christine Vallas said having a range of services under one roof was a win-win situation for everyone.
For the past four years the centre has rented extra space at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick and the Narre Warren library to run supported playgroups.
“The new room will be much more convenient for parents,” she said.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley said the extended children’s centre would be welcomed by local families now and in the future.
“The City of Casey is experiencing a baby boom, with a 30.1 per cent increase in births between 2000 and 2007,” she said.
The centre received $250,000 from Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for the project, with the remaining funds provided by Yooralla.
