Twenty-three Victorian kindergartens and child care centres will share $4.6 million in Brumby Labor Government grants to expand facilities so they can deliver more kinder hours.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand said the grants would help the services prepare to increase kinder hours from 10 to 15 in the year before school by 2013 as part of national changes.
“Kinder is a really important time in a child’s development and we want to ensure all Victorian children have access to a kindergarten program,” Ms Morand said.
“That is why our Government supports an increase in the number of hours children attend kinder programs and we are supporting kindergartens and childcare centres to deliver more places.
“However, we recognise this is a significant change and that is why we are supporting centres through funding such as this so they can prepare for the change.
“I’m really pleased that we have been able to partner with service operators, in many cases locals councils, to deliver these new facilities for local families.”
Ms Morand said the grants were part of the $210 million Victoria received from the Federal Government as part of the National Partnership on Early Childhood Education and Care.
Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth Kate Ellis said the Australian Labor Government is committed to building a world class early childhood education system.
"Ensuring every Australian child has access to 15 hours a week of high quality learning in the year before they start school is vital investment in our nation's future,” she said.
In addition to announcing the successful grant recipients, Ms Morand announced that a further round of grants of up to $200,000 for renovation and refurbishment works would open next week.
The 23 successful grant recipients are:
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Lara Lake Community Preschool, Geelong
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H.E. Kane Memorial Kindergarten, Hadfield
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Belmont Community Kindergarten, Belmont
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Moomba Park Kindergarten, Fawkner
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Apex Preschool Inc, Elliminyt
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Oakhill Kindergarten, Reservoir
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St Paul’s Lutheran Kindergarten, Grovedale
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JS Grey Kindergarten, West Preston
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Yooralla–The Patch Community Children’s Centre
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Cranbourne Daycare and Kindergarten, Cranbourne
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Murrindal Family Centre, Rowville
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Dr Harry Little Memorial Preschool, Bendigo
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Barngeong Reserve Kindergarten, Croydon
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Glen Eira City Council Orrong Road, Elsternwick
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Leongatha Children’s Centre, Leongatha
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Gordon Street Preschool, Beaumaris
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Inverloch and District Preschool, Inverloch
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College Rd Kindergarten, Werribee
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Young Street Kindergarten, Bacchus Marsh
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St Andrew’s Sunbury Kindergarten, Sunbury
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Echuca South Community School, Echuca
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Melton West Community Centre, West Melton
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Merbein Preschool, Merbein
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Information on the new round of funding can be found at: www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/funding/capitalprogram