The Andrews Labor Government is delivering the early learning facilities that children and families need, with the architects named for nine new kindergartens on school sites set to open in 2025.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today announced the architecture firms who have been selected to design the new kinder projects - which will give children a place to learn and thrive while also providing a smoother transition to school.
The new facilities will open in 2025 and will be built at or near 9 schools across the state - saving more parents time and money by helping them ditch the double drop-off.
The architects appointed to design the nine new kindergartens are:
- Foreground Architecture - Mildura South Primary School, Kerang South Primary School and Echuca Primary School kindergartens
- ClareHopkinsClarke Architects - Wallan Secondary College, Broadmeadows Valley Primary School and Thornbury High School kindergartens
- Baldasso Cortese - Devon Meadows Primary School, Wonthaggi North Primary School and Tootgarook Primary School kindergartens.
The state-of-the-art facilities will deliver children a high-quality early learning experience and will be designed in consultation with school communities and local councils.
Through our transformational $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Labor Government has made sure that every new primary school since 2021 has a kinder located on-site or next door, making quality kindergarten programs across Victoria easier to access for local families.
Best Start, Best Life is providing generational change to early childhood education across the state - helping children thrive, saving families money and supporting parents and carers - especially women - to return to work or study if they choose.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 further invests $1.2 billion by building or expanding around 145 kindergartens - supporting the delivery of 15 hours of free Three-Year-Old Kindergarten each week by 2029 and 30 hours of free Pre-Prep each week by 2032.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
"Building these new kinders is about delivering modern, tailored early learning facilities to local families across Victoria - so that every child gets the best start in life."
"We're ditching the double drop-off - giving every child access to an outstanding education close to home while saving families time and money."
