The Allan Labor Government is making sure thousands more children get a high-quality education at a local kindergarten with dozens of new or expanded services opening this year - creating more than 6,500 kinder places.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight have visited Barayip Primary School Kindergarten to celebrate the new kinder year and officially open the service - one of 65 new or expanded services welcoming children in 2025 - where up to 238 new kindergarten places have been created across four rooms.
The new and upgraded kinders are helping address demand in Australia's fastest growing state where more than 70,000 children are starting three-year-old kindergarten this year, with around 80,000 children joining four-year-old kindergarten.
Twenty of these kindergartens are opening at government schools, providing up to 2,575 new kinder places for Victorian children - and saving parents time during busy periods by eliminating the dreaded double drop-off.
Another 45 new or expanded kindergartens are opening at council, non-government school and other sector sites, supported by Labor Government funding through Building Blocks Partnerships and Capacity Building grants. These projects will collectively create more than 4,000 new kindergarten places.
Free Kinder continues to save nearly 154,000 families up to $2,627 in fees per child at sessional kindergartens and up to $2,101 per child at long day care centres.
Pre-Prep has also arrived in the local government areas of Ararat, Gannawarra, Hindmarsh, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack - extending four-year-old kindergarten programs to up to 30 hours of play-based learning each week.
The Labor Government is investing billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens across the state. It's all part of our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, which are transforming early childhood education, saving families money and supporting parents and carers to return to work or study if they choose.
As stated by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
"Only a Labor Government prioritises the education of children and cost of living relief. This year we're opening 20 kinders on school sites and continuing Free Kinder to save families up to $2,627 - all to give children the best start in life."
"Our Best Start, Best Life reforms are delivering 65 kindergartens this year and thousands of kindergarten places right across the state - so more children and families can access a world-class kinder close to home."
As stated by Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight
"Families in Tarneit deserve access to modern early learning facilities close to home. Our focus on education ensures local kinders are ready to meet the needs of our growing community, providing more places and better facilities."
Kindergartens opening at government schools in 2025
Anstruther Street Kindergarten (at Echuca Primary School)
Ballan Early Education (at Ballan Primary School)
Barayip Primary School Kindergarten
Darebin Creek Kindergarten (at Thornbury High School)
Devon Meadows Primary School Kindergarten
Dimboola Primary School Kindergarten
Gippsland Lakes Early Learning Centre (at Lakes Entrance Primary School)
Gowrie Victoria Broadmeadows Valley (at Broadmeadows Valley Primary School)
Greenvale Primary School Kindergarten
Kerang South Kindergarten (at Kerang South Primary School)
Nhill College Kindergarten
St Arnaud Primary School Kindergarten
Swifts Creek Uniting Early Learning (at Swifts Creek P-12 School, Flagstaff Campus)
Tootgarook Primary School Kindergarten
Topirum Primary School Kindergarten
Wallan Secondary College Kindergarten
Wetlands Drive Kindergarten (at Mildura South Primary School)
Whitfield District Early Years (at Whitfield District Primary School)
Wonthaggi North Uniting Kindergarten (at Wonthaggi North Primary School)
Yea Uniting Kindergarten (at Yea Primary School)
