Through a new round of grants supporting planning for vital kindergarten building projects, the state government is bringing 19 more kinders to life in growing areas of Victoria, including Wellington Shire.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Ingrid Stitt announced last Wednesday that 15 local councils and kindergarten service providers would share in $2.5 million of Building Blocks Planning grants of up to $150,000 each for planning, design and pre-construction work on kindergarten building projects.
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria to expand access to early education and help our children learn, grow and thrive,” Ms Stitt said.
“These grants will help eligible organisations plan projects that increase access to kindergarten for local families – providing the funding needed to help get these projects off the ground.”
Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh, confirmed that Wellington Shire Council would share in the $2.5 million of Building Blocks Planning grants.
“These grants will help plan projects that increase access to kindergarten for local families in Sale and provide the funding to deliver the projects as the community grows,” Mr McIntosh said.
The $150,000 grant to Wellington Shire Council will support planning activity for the Sale Integrated Centre for Children and Families to ensure the best for the local community.
Located on Gibson’s Road, the Sale Integrated Centre for Children and Families will bring together a range of services, working in collaboration to deliver education, care, health and support services to children and their families in the North Sale growth area.
The cities of Boroondara, Darebin, Monash, Greater Shepparton and Warrnambool, together with Baw Baw, Murrindindi, South Gippsland, Surf Coast and Wellington shires, have been awarded funding to support crucial pre-construction works to help these projects come to life.
Helping prepare for and construct new early childhood infrastructure is a key part of the state government’s rollout of free three and four-year-old kinder in local areas state-wide to ensure all Victorian children get the best start to life.
Through the $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the state government aims to transform early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents – especially women – to return to work or study if they choose.
In a bid to support local councils and kindergarten service providers to better plan for and meet the demand for kindergarten as Victoria grows, the Victorian Budget 2023/24 has made it easier to apply for grants in the Building Blocks Capacity Building and Planning streams.
Applications for Building Blocks Planning grants of up to $150,000 are now accepted year-round – making it faster and easier for eligible organisations in Gippsland to apply for funding that supports planning for new and expanded kinders.
The Building Blocks grants program also offers significantly increased capacity building grants of up to $4.5 million for new integrated children’s centres, $4 million for new early learning centres and $1 million for expansion projects – helping to build the new and expanded kinders Victoria’s littlest learners need, right across the state.
Previous recipients of the Building Blocks Capacity grants program in the Wellington Shire include Gumnuts Early Learning Centre, who received funding to expand creating an extra 66 kindergarten places for local families.
Yarram Early Learning Centre was also also recently awarded $2 million to undergo a two-room expansion, ensuring local children can get the best start in life, close to home.
