Minister Blandthorn announces latest Building Block Grant recipients

Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio visited Baxter Kindergarten last week to announce the recipients of the latest round of Building Blocks grants.

Grants will be given to 123 kindergartens, which collectively will receive more than $24.6 million to upgrade buildings and outdoor areas.

Larger projects will receive up to $750,000, with smaller projects capped at $150,000. Funds are available for upgrades to outdoor learning environments, to make buildings more accessible for children with additional needs, or to expand available spaces to meet increased enrolment demands. 

Goodstart Early Learning in Chelsea Heights will be given $150,000 to expand its outdoor play space with new artificial turf, a new soft fall impact zone, new concrete pathways, and a refresh of its garden beds. 

Birregurra Preschool will receive over $720,000 to build new staff office space, storage and student lockers as well as additional toilets, teaching space and a staff meeting/kitchen area.

Baxter Kindergarten will receive $1,758 through the Building Blocks Improvement Grants Information Technology category to purchase a new laptop and monitor – and more than 1,000 services will also receive over $2 million for IT equipment. 

“These Building Blocks grants ensure hundreds of kindergartens have the facilities and equipment they need to give Victorian children a great start in life,” Ms Blandthorn said. 

Since Building Blocks launched in 2020, the Government has invested more than $200 million to plan and build new and improved early childhood services across the state. 

For more information on the program and successful applicants visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au