The Allan Labor Government is delivering more kindergarten places and modern learning facilities for busy Victorian families.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos today announced a $16.4 million investment in three services to increase their capacity and upgrade buildings – creating 475 new kinder places across the state and giving families access to kinder closer to home.

Beis Menachem Community Centre in Bentleigh East has received $4.5 million to provide 118 new kindergarten places and multipurpose rooms to deliver education, care and health support to children and their families.

Mildura Rural City Council has received $8.95 million to build Nichols Point Integrated Early Years Centre, which will include four kindergarten rooms and create an additional 237 kinder places. The service will also provide maternal and child health services and provide spaces for community activity.

Gum Nut Gully Preschool in Doncaster East will be replaced by a modern two-room modular building. The new building will enable the service to cater for future needs in the area.

These Building Blocks Capacity Building Grants support the early learning sector’s construction of new facilities and expand existing infrastructure to create additional kindergarten places for three- and four-year-olds across Victoria.

Two projects will share in $278,700 including Boroondara City Council to plan new kindergarten building projects.

The Labor Government’s Building Blocks Planning Grants help councils and kindergarten providers organise building projects to meet the future demand for three- and four-year-old kindergarten in their local areas.

The Labor Government is investing billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens across the state, supporting the delivery of 15 hours of three-year-old kindergarten each week by 2029 and up to 30 hours of pre-prep each week by 2036.

The nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms are transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents to return to work or study.

For more information, go to schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/building-blocks-grants-capacity-building and https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/building-blocks-grants-planning.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn

“We’re proud to be planning bigger and better kinders right across the state – because we know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives.”

“More kinder places mean more busy Victorian families can access the services they need while they save thousands with Free Kinder.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos

“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria to expand access to early education and help our kids thrive.