NEW PLAYSPACE FOR WERRIBEE WEST KINDER FAMILIES

Werribee West families will soon have access to the new and modern first-rate facilities they deserve, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Werribee Tim Pallas MP today visited Werribee West Kindergarten to turn the sod on the next phase of construction of its $350,000 outdoor upgrade project.

The Labor Government is investing $350,000 for an upgraded outdoor learning space through the previous Children’s Facilities Capital Program, which is now known as Building Blocks.

The upgraded outdoor learning space when completed will include two playgrounds, natural features such as a sandpit, a mud pit, vegetable patches and boulders for climbing, as well as new outdoor decking areas for students.

The Building Blocks program supports early childhood providers to create infrastructure capacity for three-year and four-year-old funded kindergarten services, improves early learning facilities and creates inclusive settings.

In an Australian-first, the Labor Government has committed nearly $5 billion to deliver a full 15 hours of Three-Year-Old Kinder to every Victorian child over the next decade, with the roll-out beginning in 2020.

As part of this roll-out, the Government is upgrading infrastructure through a $1.68 billion coinvestment with the early childhood sector to build and expand kindergarten facilities across the state.

The Labor Government is also ensuring that every new Victorian primary school set to open from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, reducing the burden on parents and helping to build the Education State. This includes all 10 new primary schools which opened in 2021 and all six new primary schools opening in 2022.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt

“Building the Education State starts with the early years – that’s why we are delivering a record investment into early childhood services.”

“Giving local families access to high-quality kindergarten close to home is vital to ensuring children have a world-class education in the early years.”

Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas MP

“This exciting project will give families in Werribee West access to a first-rate early learning centre and help their children get the most out of kinder before transitioning to school.”