The Allan Labor Government is backing the early childhood sector to deliver more kindergartens where they are needed most, with another round of grants to help meet future demand from Victorian families.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today announced almost $690,000 for five Building Blocks Planning Grants to be shared between three providers. The grants will enable planning and pre-construction work across 19 building projects across metro and regional Victoria - creating new kinder places to fill demand from local families.
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education will conduct feasibility assessments and planning for 16 kindergartens across Melbourne, Geelong and regional Victoria, Wyndham Vale and Tarneit.
Box Hill South Preschool Centre Inc will plan a proposed expansion of its single-room kindergarten building. The proposed expansion will deliver increased kindergarten hours and run parallel sessions for three and four-year-old children.
The Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited received grant funding to develop concept plans and costings for potential future kinders in Delacombe and Daylesford.
Grants can support project management and pre-construction work, such as architecture and design planning, soil testing and geo-technical services. Funding can also be used for activities including construction costing works, environmental sustainability assessments and feasibility studies.
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 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
"These grants are just one of the ways we're helping councils and kindergarten providers plan and deliver the projects needed to help meet future demand for kinder in their local area - on top of state-wide infrastructure funding and Free Kinder."
"Building Blocks Planning grants help kindergarten service providers cover the design and pre-construction planning costs associated with building projects."
