31 Oct 2018 Benalla Ensign, Benalla VIC (General News) Upgrades at the Australian Christian College Benalla can get under way after funding was confirmed by State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes on Friday. The works will include creating all-access play areas, sensory gardens, outdoor learning areas, and expanding the kindergarten yard to support students with disabilities and additional needs. The funding is part of the latest rounds of the Victorian Governments $30 million Inclusive Schools Fund. Ms Symes visited the school to announce $175 000 in funding would be made available for the upgrades. The Inclusive Schools Fund is designed to help government schools better support the social and education needs of young people with a disability. The college project will upgrade and expand the kindergarten yard, which will triple in size with play equipment expanded to provide for more outdoor experiences for students. The Australian Christian College Early Learners Expansion Project has also been successful in obtaining funding under the Childrens Facilities Capital Program. They will receive $149 103 to expand their facilities to double the capacity for three and fouryear-old kinder and be able, for the first time, to offer long day care and before/after/holiday care. The state Labor government said Building the Education State starts with early learning, and that a re-elected Andrews Labor Government would invest almost five billion dollars to give every child the option of an extra year of kinder. These ambitious reforms are cited to be rolled out in 2020, with every three-year old in the state to benefit by 2022. More information about these projects is available at: www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au