Soldiers Hill early learning service supported via City of Ballarat community grant 

The Salvation Army Karinya Support Services low fee early learning service in Pleasant Street, Ballarat, Victoria has welcomed a recent upgrade to its outdoor play space and basketball court thanks to a community grant from the City of Ballarat.

Salvation Army Karinya Support Services’ childcare centre in Soldiers Hill is ‘much loved’ by children and parents alike, and centre operators Louise Jeffrey and Tiffany Foster said the opportunity for the children to learn and play on rubaroc flooring – a soft, skid-free rubber-based material – is a welcome one. 

“Part of having this space look so good is about showing our clients that we value and appreciate them,” Ms Jeffrey said, outlining the importance of having a high quality and aesthetically pleasing space in helping the children and families to feel deserving of good things, despite the centre being low fee in response to the needs of the community.

“We’re not just giving them secondhand things, we’re giving them a beautiful space, which is what they deserve,” she added.

The grant covered the costs of installing new synthetic grass and a professional clean of the rubaroc flooring, as well as the installation of a three-metre fence around Karinya’s community basketball court in Pleasant Street, to protect passing cars from any stray basketballs, as well as the safety of participants. 

While Karinya’s early learning service is open to anyone in the community requiring low-cost care, it also provides early learning and care services to the children of women who may have experienced homelessness or who have left family violence and are accessing other services — such as supported housing or parenting programs — through Karinya Support Services.

All staff in the service have been trained in trauma response, attachment theory and how to handle disclosures of family violence.

The Community Impact Grant Program (CIGP) offered by the City of Ballarat builds community capacity and fosters connections among community members and groups by funding initiatives that align with City of Ballarat priority areas.

The CIGP is open for applications now, closing 30 March 2025.  For more information, visit the City of Ballarat grants page.