Victoria announces $14.7m in funding for eight kindergarten projects

Eight Victorian kindergarten services will benefit from the latest round of Building Blocks funding from the Victorian Government, with $14.7 million put forward to build four new services, and expand an additional four, delivering hundreds of extra places. 

Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt announced the funding over the weekend. 

Kindergartens to receive significant upgrades include Kensington Community Children’s Co-Op, Rowen Street Kindergarten, Rasmussen Road Kindergarten, and Bacchus Marsh Montessori Uniting Kindergarten.

Frankston City, Macedon Ranges and Strathbogie Shire will all receive new kindergartens using architecturally designed modular construction, while a new modular kindergarten will also be built in Altona North in partnership with the Hobsons Bay City Council. 

Recent independent analysis from Deloitte shows that Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life kindergarten reforms will boost Victoria’s workforce by up to 24,800 full-time equivalent and increase the state’s economy by between $1.9 billion and $2.8 billion in 2032-33. 

From 2023, three year olds in Victoria will have access to 15 hours of government funded kindergarten every week, free of charge. Four-Year-Old Kinder will also be free from 2023 onwards. 

To help address the current shortage of available childcare places, the Government will build 50 government-operated and affordable early childhood centres in areas that need them most. 

Every new Victorian primary school opening from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door – building coordinated education precincts in communities and helping families avoid the double drop-off.

Learn more about Building Blocks funding here.