Tuesday 29 October 2024

The Allan Labor Government is giving busy Victorian families greater access to affordable, quality and convenient kinder and childcare – with six government owned and operated childcare centres opening in 2027.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced the locations of the two new centres which will provide more than 150 places across the two centres for children up to six years of age.

These children will be among the thousands to benefit each year from the 50 new childcare centres delivered through a nation-leading investment by the Labor Government.

The two centres will be built on site or next to Cohuna Consolidated School and in the town of Red Cliffs, with final sites to be confirmed by mid-2025.

Fees will be lower than the average for each area. This support and other subsidies mean families on low incomes will typically pay only a small fee each day. All government-owned centres will also include Free Kinder.

Many of the centres are located on local school sites with space for other supports like maternal and child health and playgroups, giving busy families a hub for the services they need close to home and helping them to ditch the dreaded double drop-off.

The Labor Government is delivering 24 government-run early learning facilities across Victoria between 2025 and 2027. Operated by Early Learning Victoria, these 24 centres will provide more than 2,300 licensed places for children.

By 2032, the Labor Government will establish 50 centres as part of these nation-leading reforms – delivering quality childcare and Free Kinder to communities where early childhood education and care is needed most.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn

“We’re helping busy families access the services they need – making childcare and kinder more accessible with six more early learning and childcare centres opening in 2027.”

“We’re stepping in to deliver unprecedented investment in early childhood education to help our littlest Victorians and their families access quality early education and care – when and where it’s needed most.”

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“These new early learning and childcare centres will become valuable community assets – ditching the dreaded double drop-off so that local families can get the services they need close to home.”