Victorian families in Melbourne's southeast are set to benefit from more Free Kinder places, thanks to the Allan Labor Government's new Building Blocks partnership with Cardinia Shire Council.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale today announced the first project to be delivered under the partnership, which will deliver 64 more places for local families in Lang Lang.
The $3 million investment will build a brand new two-room kindergarten at Oxford Street, replacing the outdated facility on Whitstable Street. The new kindergarten will include an outdoor space and off-street parking.
The existing single-room kinder is an aged building that is at end of useful life. The service and provider will be relocated to this new facility, along with the Maternal Child Health service that currently leases a space elsewhere.
The Labor Government has entered into 18 Building Blocks partnerships since 2021, delivering 108 new and expanded kindergartens and new kinder places when and where they're needed most.
Victorian families can save up to $2,600 per child per year thanks to the Labor Government's investment in Free Kinder, with three-year-olds now able to enjoy at least five hours of free kinder per week, increasing to 15 hours by 2029.
From 2025 to 2036, four-year-old kindergarten will transition to 'Pre-Prep' - doubling play-based learning for every four-year-old child in Victoria to 30 hours a week.
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
"Even more children in southeast Melbourne will soon get the best start in life through our latest Building Blocks Partnership - which will deliver a new pipeline of kinder places where they're needed most."
"Labor's focus on education is about more than just delivering the great spaces we know families want for their children - we're also easing cost of living pressure for families by saving them up to $2,600 per child every year."
As stated by Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale MP
"By entering into a Building Blocks partnership with Cardinia Shire Council and funding new kindergarten places and facilities, we're investing in the future of families and children right here in the growing community of Lang Lang in Melbourne's southeast - exactly where we know services are needed."
