The State Government is delivering richer early learning experiences for Victorian kids while providing elderly Victorians better care environments, with the opening of The Herd Intergenerational Learning Centre.
Backed with $500,000 in funding from the State Government and now open, The Herd is the first centre in Victoria to offer an intergenerational approach under the one roof, delivering life-changing care and learning experiences to some of the state’s youngest and oldest Victorians.
The centre will offer 66 early learning places, helping meet demand for three-and four-year-old kindergarten in the Mornington area, while delivering a unique curriculum that engages its aged care facility to participate in early learning activities and experiences.
The Herd’s intergenerational model of care provides opportunities for children and aged care residents to come together five days a week, enjoying activities which include art, music, storytelling and social interaction.
Frequent social engagement will provide The Herd’s aged care residents with significant benefits to physical well-being and mental health, while interactions with elderly Victorians will deliver young students with enhanced social and emotional development.
The project was funded through the former Children’s Facilities Capital program, which evolved to become the Building Blocks Grants program.
Building Blocks has funded new kindergarten buildings, expansions and improvements, supporting the sector to create additional kindergarten places across the state.
It has also allowed the expansion of early learning and created closer working relationships with local government and not-for-profit providers to deliver more, and better integrated, family and community services.
Since it was launched in 2020, Building Blocks has provided $189 million to improve facilities at 275 kindergarten services across the state and increase the number of places at centres where extra capacity is needed most.
Over the next decade the State Government is delivering a massive $9 billion investment in early childhood education and care, saving families money and supporting women to return to the workforce.
