- Published:
- Thursday 14 September 2023
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering families in Pascoe Vale bigger and better local kindergarten facilities, thanks to a Building Blocks Partnership with Merri-bek City Council.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today announced a $3.4 million expansion of the Derby Street Children’s Centre which will expand the service by up to 22 new kindergarten places, backed by a $1.5 million investment from the Labor government.
Once completed in Term 1, 2025, the expanded service will provide 75 kindergarten places for local children, giving more families world-class early learning facilities close to home.
The partnership will also deliver up to 99 further new kindergarten places for local families in Merri-bek through the expansion of Lorne Street Kindergarten in Fawkner, Turner Street Kindergarten in Pascoe Vale South, and the Pascoe Vale Community Centre kindergarten.
Funding for these projects is provided as part of a $10.7 million contribution from the Labor Government for 11 new and expanded kindergarten services under the Merri-bek Building Blocks Partnership – providing our littlest learners access to outstanding early learning facilities to help them thrive.
By 2027, the partnership will deliver up to 329 extra kindergarten places for local families as the community grows, ensuring children have a range of high quality kinders to begin their education journey.
Since 2021, the Government has entered Building Blocks partnerships with 11 local councils to build 71 new and expanded kindergartens and create up to 9,440 new kindergarten places across Victoria.
Through our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, we are transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents – especially women – to return to work or study if they choose.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“Our Building Blocks Partnership with Merri-bek City Council is supporting the successful rollout of our Best Start, Best Life reforms and delivering a pipeline of new and expanded kinders for local families.”
“Expanding Derby Street Children’s Centre will give more children in Pascoe Vale the opportunity to get the best start in life close to home, and give families a greater choice of amazing local kinder facilities.”
Quote attributable to Member for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone
“We’re proud to be investing in the future of our local young learners in Pascoe Vale by expanding the much loved Derby St Children’s Centre.”