More families in Melbourne's west will have access to world-class kinder facilities close to home - as part of the Allan Labor Government's investment to build or upgrade kinders at low-fee non-government schools right where they're needed most.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today announced three new kinders at Catholic primary schools, creating 534 kinder places for local families.
Each kinder will have up to 178 places for local kids, offer outside school hours care and include space for family consulting services. They include:
- St Clare's Children's Hub Truganina (opening in 2029)
- Mary Glowrey Children's Hub Mount Duneed (opening in 2028)
- St John the Apostle Children's Hub Tarneit West (opening in 2028)
The $81 million Building Blocks Partnership with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education (MACSEYE) will create more than 1,600 new places for kids in the areas of Melbourne where they're needed most.
Nine other kinders are being delivered at Catholic primary schools in some of Melbourne's fastest growing suburbs including Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham - creating more than 1,600 extra places for local families.
The Labor Government's investment in Free Kinder saves families up to $2,600 every year, with three-year-olds now able to access five hours of free kinder per week - increasing to 15 hours by 2029. By 2036 we'll deliver Pre-Prep for four-year-olds - doubling play-based learning for every four-year-old Victorian child to 30 hours a week.
Our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, are transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money, and support parents and carers to return to work or study if they choose.
As stated by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
"These three new projects in the west will create up to 534 new kinder places and give more families access to great local kinders close to home - as part of the partnership with MASCEYE to deliver more than 1,600 spots for children."
"These kinders will help parents ditch the dreaded drop-off and ease the transition to primary school - all on top of our Free Kinder investment that's saving families up to $2,600 per child every year."
As stated by MACSEYE Managing Director Heather Finlayson
"By co-locating kinders with Catholic primary schools, we're making it easier for families to access early education and outside school hours care, ensuring a seamless transition to school and strengthening the community of support."
