The Allan Labor Government is giving Victorian kids the best start in life with the first four government-owned and operated childcare centres opening their doors.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today joined children and families and staff at Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner to officially open Early Learning Victoria Wimbi.
The brand-new centre has space for up to 130 local children each day, offering long day care as well as three and four-year-old kindergarten programs.
Another three Early Learning Victoria centres - at Sunshine Primary School, Murtoa College and Eaglehawk North Primary School - have also opened their doors for this year.
More than 400 children across these four sites will be the first to benefit from the 50 new centres. They will all be in areas that need extra childcare places the most and where there are higher rates of disadvantage.
The centres are low fee, making childcare more affordable and helping parents to return to work - and Free Kinder is on offer. The centres are also located on local school sites, ending the dreaded double drop off for local families.
There's also space for other supports like maternal and child health, playgroups, and indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support and encourage learning through play.
From next year, 18 Early Learning Victoria locations will deliver more than 1,800 licensed places for local children and families as part of the Labor Government's nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms to improve access to early childhood education and care.
Interested families can tour Early Learning Victoria centres to learn more about the centre and the programs offered. To find out more visit earlylearning.vic.gov.au/enrol.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We're standing up for families by opening government-run childcare centres to give them more options for their little ones."
"In a cost of living crisis, helping parents return to work or take on extra shifts makes an enormous difference."
As stated by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
"Victorian families deserve access to high-quality early childhood education and care no matter their postcode - we're giving our littlest Victorians the best start, so that they get the best opportunities in life."
"This historic investment in early childhood education is about setting our kids up for the future and investing in Victorian families."
As stated by Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward
"Every child deserves a chance to thrive, and these new childcare centres will ensure local children can access the benefits of early learning close to home right here in Fawkner."
