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ELAA welcomes Victorian Government commitment to early learning
Freya Lucas
Apr 07, 2023
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The Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) has welcomed the recent Victorian Government announcement of significant infrastructure assistance for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
This assistance, ELAA said, will take services another step closer to realising the benefits of the Government’s $9 billion ‘Best Start Best Life’ kindergarten reform program.Key elements of the infrastructure assistance announcement include:
- an increase in funding for expansion grants for existing services from a maximum of $2.7 million to $4.5 million
- an increase in funding for new Early Learning Facilities (which deliver kindergarten and support the delivery of other services such as long day care and maternal and child health or playgroups) from a maximum of $3 million to a maximum of $8 million
- an increase in funding for Integrated Children’s Centres (which deliver kindergarten and may include long day care, maternal child and health, family services and other community facilities) from a maximum of $4 million to $9 million
- a continuation of grants for the manufacture, delivery and installation of the modular kindergarten facility and outdoor learning.
The grants are available for organisations including councils, not-for-profit community organisations, and schools, and has been “most welcomed” by ELAA Director Advocacy and Member Services, Megan O’Connell.
“Having the appropriate infrastructure is key to making Victoria’s early childhood reforms a reality,” she said.
“Service providers will now be able to better plan as to how they will be able to deliver key reforms including the scale up of three-year-old kindergarten and the ‘Pre-Prep’ program for four-year-olds.”
ELAA is particularly pleased at the significant increase in funding for building wrap-around services that can meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.
“Vulnerable children have the most to benefit from quality ECEC,” Ms O’Connell continued. “By providing access to a range of services for families at the one site, we can reduce barriers to access and support children’s participation in this pivotal phase of education.”
“This announcement presents significant opportunities to many early years providers and communities. ELAA strongly encourages community-based providers of ECEC to consider the assistance on offer – it could make a lasting difference to your service and community,” Ms O’Connell added.
To learn more about the grants which are on offer, see here.
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