The Allan Labor Government is delivering for families in Ballarat with hundreds more kindergarten places and modern education facilities.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced up to $21.5 million in funding to support the new Building Blocks Partnership with the City of Ballarat and create up to 612 new kindergarten places.
The five partnership projects being funded will finish by 2032, with work already underway at Sebastopol Community Hub and Lucas Community Hub for new kinder spaces.
Delacombe Community Kindergarten is also set to expand to allow up to an additional 79 kinder places for Term 1, 2028. The project has received $2 million in funding and includes a new staff planning room, staff lunch room, a new store room and laundry facilities.
Including the City of Ballarat partnership, the Labor Government has now entered 17 Building Blocks Partnerships since 2021. The partnerships across the state are producing 106 new and expanded kindergartens and up to 14,712 new kinder places - when and where they're needed most.
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.
Through our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Labor Government is 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
"We all want the best for our kids, and our partnership with the City of Ballarat will deliver hundreds of kindergarten places, giving more families across some of Ballarat's fastest growing areas access to a fantastic local kinder."
"Investment in kinder is an investment in our children's future - Free Kinder is reducing the costs for parents and Building Blocks partnerships are delivering more than 14,000 new kindergarten places in local government areas across Victoria, so more children can get the best start in life."
As stated by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison
"Expanding kinder places isn't just about education-it's about helping parents and carers return to work or study, knowing their children are getting the best start in life. This partnership will make a real difference for families in Ballarat."
As stated by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett
"Families in Ballarat deserve access to modern early learning facilities close to home. This partnership ensures local kinders are ready to meet the needs of our growing community, providing more places and better facilities."
