The Allan Labor Government is bringing affordable childcare and free kinder to more communities across Victoria, with an extra four early learning and childcare centres (ELCCs) set to open in 2026 - adding to the 10 sites already due for delivery.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward yesterday visited Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner to reveal the locations for the four new sites.
Three of the additional centres will be located at new schools including Mickleham South Primary School, Toolern Waters Primary School and Wollert Andrews Road Primary School (interim names), with the fourth to be built next to Teesdale Primary School on recently acquired land.
These additional ELCCs will provide more than 450 places for children up to five years old - including both childcare and Three-and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten services.
Each centre will help meet local demand for these vital early learning experiences in places with a shortage of early learning facilities. They will feature dedicated community space for programs and services like maternal and child health, allied health, playgroups or other child and family services.
The Labor Government has also announced the architects appointed to work on the projects. Brand Architects have been selected to design the centres at Toolern Waters and Teesdale Primary schools, while Architectus will design the facilities at Mickleham South and Wollert Andrews Road Primary schools.
Meanwhile, Victoria's first 4 ELCCs are on track to open in 2025 - with Hutchinson Builders now appointed to lead construction of the early learning and childcare facilities at Sunshine Primary School, Eaglehawk North Primary School, Moomba Park Primary School and Murtoa College.
Between 2025 and 2032, the Labor Government will establish 50 ELCCs to improve access to early education and help meet demand for kindergarten and childcare in our communities. By 2026, the first 18 centres will collectively deliver more than 1,800 licensed places for local children and families.
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
"Every family deserves to have access to local and affordable early childhood education and care - that's why we're delivering 50 early learning and childcare centres in the Victorian communities that need them most."
"Victoria's first 18 early learning and childcare centres will be conveniently located at government schools, and I'm excited about the opportunities these facilities will bring for local children, local schools and their communities."
As stated by Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward
"We're proud to deliver more early childhood education where it's needed most - we know the years between birth and five years old are the most critical for development, and we're backing every Victorian child to thrive."
