Phillip Island Early Learning Centre: 48 spots available as new childcare opens amid crisis

A new childcare is open in Phillip Island after families were left scrambling when the only other option was forced to shut.

A new childcare has opened in Phillip Island after families were left scrambling when the only option was forced to shut.

Nurture One Childcare Centre was forced to close in October for renovations after flooding impacted the building.

But now Phillip Island Early Learning Centre in Cowes has expanded to meet the high demand.

The $687,000 upgrade features a new room alongside the long day care and sessional daycare.

It means 39 new licenced spots and nine sessional four-year-old spots are now available to local toddlers.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at PIELC. Pictured: Sarah Tyrell, Cr Mayor Michael Wheelan, State Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale, Karen Treppo, Sue Becker, Lynne Hadley with help from Gemma, Jacqueline, Fergus, Ashley, Bonnie and Avana.

Karen Treppo, the centre’s co-ordinator, said she was excited about the opportunity.

“Next year will see our new room filled with 55 kindergarten children learning in this beautiful inclusive environment,” she said.

“We are thankful to belong to a community that values early childhood education.”

The expansion of the Phillip Island centre is a part of a rollout that began in 2020 to build and expand kindergarten facilities around the state.

It includes upgrading infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector.

Bass Valley Children’s Centre manager, Sharyn Holmberg, told The Bass Coast News earlier this year, the centre had struggled to keep up with the increase in enrolments.

To keep up with the demand, the centre hired seven new educators in November, 2020.