New $6.88m early learning centre to support young families in North Melbourne

A new $6.88 million integrated children’s centre will be developed at Saints College’s North Melbourne campus, delivering vital early learning opportunities for inner-city families and helping young parents remain engaged in education.

Announced by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn during a campus visit on 23 June, the project is being delivered through the Victorian Government’s Building Blocks Partnership (BBP) program, in collaboration with Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Ltd (EREA VSL), which will contribute $1.05 million toward the build.

The centre will include three kindergarten rooms to be delivered in stages: one opening in 2027, a second in 2028, and the final in 2029. Once complete, the centre will provide up to 47 kindergarten places.

Beyond sessional kindergarten, the integrated facility will offer long day care, consulting rooms, and space for support services. Critically, it will cater to students enrolled in Saints College’s Young Parents Program, allowing them to bring their babies and toddlers onsite while continuing their formal studies.

Minister Blandthorn highlighted the dual generational benefits of the investment.

“Kinder is an incredibly important part of a child’s early education,” she said. “And it makes parents’ lives easier to give their child that early education if they can continue with their own formal education.”

“It’s great to see that Saints College and the Young Parents Program will be supported with a grant of $6.88 million to plan for and build an integrated children’s centre to wrap education and support around young parents and children at this school.”

EREA VSL Deputy CEO Chloe Hand said the centre would make a lasting impact.

“Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Limited (EREA VSL) are deeply grateful to partner with the government to give children the best start in life through quality early years education that positively impacts each child’s development, learning and future success,” she said.

“The project at Saints College will allow us to support our local community and the many young parents who entrust us with their own education and that of their babies and children.”

The announcement forms part of Victoria’s broader early childhood reform agenda. Under the Building Blocks Partnership program, 19 agreements have been signed to date, supporting the construction and expansion of 110 kindergartens and creating more than 13,925 additional kindergarten places across the state.

To read the original coverage of this story, as produced by the North West City News, please see here.