Several kindergartens in the South East are set to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in refurbishment funding from the State Government.
Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing last week announced that three kindergartens will join the ranks of over 100 other Early Childhood services to benefit from the $17.7 million Building Blocks Improvement grant program.
Namely, Mansfield Street Kindergarten in Berwick will receive $290,000 to remove asbestos sheeting and complete an overall upgrade of the facility to enhance the overall learning environment.
Officer’s Heritage College Early Learning Centre will also cash in, receiving $400,000 to undertake landscaping work and interior upgrades that will provide a more accessible and welcoming environment for children.
Works will include constructing new undercover and shaded areas,installing accessibility options for children with disabilities and mobility impairments, and provide opportunities for children to explore sustainability and sensory experiences in a natural environment.
In the state’s North East, Joy Avenue Preschool in Mount Evelyn is set to receive $199,500 to develop and improve their existing outdoor play space to improve inclusivity, provide additional learning areas, and connect existing structures.
Building Blocks Improvement grants of up to $500,000 are available towards an early learning facility upgrade or improvement project, providing services with funding to help them renovate and refurbish their centres.
“These grants will enable our always busy Early Childhood Centres in Berwick, Mount Evelyn and Officer to improve their facilities and technology, and assist our extraordinary educators to deliver the best outcomes for our littlest Victorians,” Ms Shing said.
The Labor Government is currently overhauling early childhood education with an ambitious $9 billion – an “unprecedented investment” according to Early Childhood minister Ingrid Stitt.
“These grants will help local councils and early childhood services across Victoria to improve their kindergartens and help set them up for the future,” she said.
To help address the current shortage of available childcare places, the State Government also plans to establish 50 government-operated and affordable childcare centres in areas that need them most.
The Government has also committed ensuring every new Victorian primary school set to open from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, to “avoid the dreaded double drop-off”and reduce the burden on parents.
