Vic Kinder upgrades in place to support inclusive environments

The Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education Sonya Kilkenny visited  Miners Rest Kindergarten and Creswick and District Preschool on Friday to announce the next round of successful applicants in the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program. 

Creswick and District Preschool is one of 54 services to secure funding to upgrade their buildings or playgrounds in 2019, successfully being granted more than $60,000 to improve the accessibility of its 60-year-old facility, including building a new ramp to connect its second classroom to the playground and widening doorways. 

Children at Miners Rest Kindergarten have already benefited from the program, after it received more than $140,000 to modify its playground and improve lighting, as well more than $5,900 for a range of inclusive equipment such sensory stepping stones and tactile paths. 

The Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program playground and buildings stream provides up to $200,000 in upgrades to create more inclusive and welcoming environments for Victoria’s early learners. 

A further 184 services will receive grants of up to $10,000 through the equipment stream for items that promote inclusiveness and diversity such as adjustable tables and chairs, padded mats and weighted cushions. 

The Victorian Budget 2019/20 included $6 million for the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program to help kindergartens across the state provide safe and inclusive environments for children with additional needs. 

Ms Kilkenny said the upgrades “will make a big difference in ensuring children of all abilities attending kindergarten in Ballarat and across Victoria get the support they need to thrive.”

More information about the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program is available here.