Andrews government announces $31m plan to upgrade kindergartens across Victoria

A $31m spending blitz to upgrade more than 270 kindergarten services across the state has been announced. See how much your kinder is getting.

Andrews government announces $31m plan to upgrade kindergartens across Victoria. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

An almost $4m expansion of a kindergarten in Melbourne’s south east is among hundreds of early learning centres that will be upgraded by the state government.

Scammell Child and Family Hub in Oakleigh South is set to receive $3.7m to create an additional 66 places under a $31m plan to upgrade more than 270 kindergartens across Victoria.

A $2m upgrade is slated for Yarram Early Learning Centre and Mount Waverley Kindergarten will receive $1m for an extra 22 places.

Major works also include maintenance at more than 100 centres, with the largest grant approved for Goodstart Early Learning in Elwood, which will receive $562,511 for improvements.

Broadmeadows Valley Children’s Centre will be granted $559,646, while Ivanhoe Children’s Community Co-operative and Abeles Liberman Preschool will each receive $500,000.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Gabrielle Wiliams visit the Alfred Nuttall Memorial Kindergarten in Fairfield. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The most recent round of the ‘Building Blocks’ program will mean that play equipment and classrooms at more than 170 kinders will be upgraded to become more inclusive for children with disabilities and special needs.

Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt said the state government was delivering “unprecedented” investment in early childhood services across Victoria.

“We’re proud to be boosting early childhood services right across the state because we know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The building and facility upgrades are part of the state government’s overhaul of Victoria’s early education system, which will provide free kinder for all three and four-year-olds from next year, saving families up to $2500 annually per child for kinder and $2000 a year on childcare fees.