Vic Government to build 50 low-cost ECEC services if re-elected: locations announced

Current Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has confirmed that his Government will build and run 50 new low-cost early childhood education and care (ECEC) services should his Labor Government be re-elected on 26 November. 

In addition to the new services, Premier Andrews has vowed to “build more kinders, establish a workforce package to tackle skills shortages and roll out 30 hours of pre-prep across the state”.

“Our childcare centres (sic.) will mean a high-quality, low-cost option for the communities that need it most. Most importantly, it’ll give parents certainty and kids the bright start they deserve,” he said. 

“It’s an investment that just makes sense: setting our little ones up for the future – and helping more families juggle the cost and complexity of childcare (sic.)”

The first 30 locations for the new ECEC services were announced over the weekend, with four services to be fast tracked in Eaglehawk North, Fawkner, Murtoa and Sunshine, opening in 2025. 

The first four services will be co-located at Eaglehawk North Primary School, Moomba Park Primary School, Murtoa College and Sunshine Primary School.The next 26 services will be in or near:

•   Creswick-Clunes
•   Dandenong
•   Foster
•   Frankston North
•   Glenroy
•   Golden Plains
•   Hallam
•   Hampton Park-Lynbrook
•   Heidelberg West
•   Kings Park
•   Lalor
•   Loddon
•   Maryborough
•   Melton South
•   Mildura
•   Noble Park East
•   Numurkah
•   Portarlington
•   Portland
•   Reservoir
•   Rochester
•   Rockbank-Mount Cottrell
•   Seymour
•   Shepparton
•   Werribee
•   Yallourn North-Glengarry.

The services listed above are set to be “up and running” by 2028, with $584 million being allocated to the program. To support the staffing needs of the services, the Andrews Government, if re-elected, will invest $159 million as part of a major workforce package to attract, retain, and develop talented and dedicated professionals.

700 additional early childhood scholarships, worth between $12,000 and $34,000 each, will be made available to those wanting to become early childhood teachers through undergraduate degree pathways. 

Additional incentives of between $9,000 and $50,000 will be made available for teachers and educators moving into or re-joining the sector, and for priority services in places that struggle to find qualified staff.

“Our early childhood educators do an incredible job. We’ll back their work with more opportunities to upskill, retrain and start a new career,” said Victorian Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt.