Jennifer Pittorino
More kinder spots are to be made available across Hobsons Bay and Monash, two rapidly growing parts of Melbourne.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep minister Ingrid Stitt announced up to $6.2 million to expand three kinders, creating up to 176 kindergarten places.
In Hobsons Bay, the Emma McLean Kindergarten & Daycare in Spotswood will be replaced by a three-room modular kindergarten.
Expanding the service’s overall capacity by up to 75 kindergarten places.
The Emma McLean Kindergarten and Daycare was established in 1944 as a sessional kindergarten.
The centre was named after a local resident, Ms Emma McLean who was a strong activist for the rights of young children, believing that they should all have access to kindergarten.
The centre is a non for profit Incorporated Association managed by a committee of volunteer parents, employing two part-time coordinators, who work together to oversee the needs of the centre, the children, and staff on a day to day basis.
Since 2021, the government said it has entered Building Blocks partnerships with 11 councils to build 71 new and expanded kindergartens, to create up to 9,440 new kindergarten places across the state.
The state government said the $9.95 million Partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council will provide up to 379 kindergarten places.
An additional $1.2 billion will be invested in the 2023/24 state budget to build or expand kindergartens state-wide.
The government said this will support the delivery of 15 hours of free Three-Year-Old Kindergarten each week by 2029 and 30 hours of free Pre-Prep each week by 2032.
Early Childhood and Pre-Prep minister Ingrid Stitt said, “We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria to make sure our kids and their families can access the best kindergarten services, no matter where they live.
“Our Building Blocks partnerships are giving local families more kindergarten options and ensuring every child can attend a great kinder close to home as the state grows.”
