UPGRADING AND IMPROVING VICTORIAN KINDERS

The Andrews Labor Government is helping Wyndham kindergartens upgrade and improve their facilities and giving them access to the latest technology.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today encouraged local councils and not-for-profit organisations delivering funded kindergarten programs to apply for a grant as part of the Labor Government’s Building Blocks program.

Applications under the Building Blocks Improvement Stream are now open, with grants available to upgrade or improve early learning facilities, and fund new IT devices.

Grants of up to $300,000 are available towards an early learning facility upgrade project, providing services with funding to help them renovate and refurbish their centres.

Organisations can apply for up to $50,000 for a minor improvement project for smaller scale works that will improve the quality of kindergarten services for their children and families.

Grants of up to $1,500 are also available for IT devices such as laptops, tablets and televisions to support the delivery of kindergarten programs or administrative use.

Launched last year, Building Blocks streamlines all pre-exisiting kindergarten infrastructure grants into one overarching program and provides increased state funding contributions for early childhood projects.

The funding supports early childhood providers to undertake projects to improve the amenity of their services, and projects to increase the capacity of their service.

Making Victoria the Education State starts with the early years. That’s why, in an Australian first, the Labor Government is investing almost $5 billion over this decade to deliver a full 15 hours per week of uni-versally funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, with the roll-out starting this year.

Visit www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/buildingblocks to apply.

Quote attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt

“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services so our children can get the most out of great local kindergartens.”

Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“I encourage local councils and early childhood services across Wyndham to take advantage of these grants to help improve our kindergartens and set them up for the future.”