Better kindergartens mean a better environment for Victorian children to begin their educational journey – and the Andrews Labor Government is continuing its record investment into early childhood education across the state.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt today announced three services are set to share in almost $140,000 for projects to improve their facilities. It means a total of 68 projects have shared more than $5.2 million of funding through the Building Blocks Improvements grants stream.
All three projects will significantly improve the learning environment for children and make play outdoors even more enjoyable. Romsey Kindergarten will use its grant of more than $47,000 to replace two play forts, Somers Parade Kindergarten in Altona will put more than $40,000 towards upgrading its old outdoor playhouse and Batman Park kindergarten on Elm Street in Northcote will use a grant of $50,000 to create new play spaces.
Through the Inclusion Grants, another 38 projects totaling $4.4 million will be funded through the building and playgrounds stream and 84 equipment grants totalling $603,386, helping make kindergartens more inclusive and accessible to all children.
Grants up to $500,000 are also available through the Building Blocks Improvement stream, providing important funding for early learning facility upgrade projects, meaning services can renovate and refurbish their centres.
Organisations can also apply through this stream for grants up to $70,000 for a minor improvement project for smaller scale works that will improve the quality of kindergarten services for their children and families – with applications currently open until 22 May.
Launched in 2020, 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, as well as increase the capacity of their service.
In an Australian-first, the Labor Government is investing almost $5 billion over this decade to deliver a full 15 hours per week of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.
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As stated by 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.”
“These grants will help local councils and early childhood services across Victoria to improve their kindergartens and help set them up for the future.”
