- Premier
Geelong families will have access to more kinder places and Maternal and Child Health services, as the new Highton Child and Family Centre officially opens its doors thanks to the historic investment by the Andrews Labor Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman, educators, child health professionals and local families today to officially open and tour the new $5.5 million facility on Belle Vue Avenue.
Co-located with Bellaire Primary School, the integrated children’s centre includes a double room kindergarten, a maternal and child health consulting suite with two consulting rooms and a waiting area, an interview room, and a multi-purpose room for group programs such as playgroups and parenting groups.
It will provide local families with 66 four-year-old kindergarten places and 44 three-year-old kindergarten places.
The Labor Government provided the City of Greater Geelong with $1.6 million towards the new centre through the Children’s Facilities and Capital Grants program.
The Labor Government will deliver the biggest early education construction boom in Victoria’s history, with almost 1,000 new and upgraded kindergartens to be built through its more than $1.68 billion investment in kinder capital.
It’s part of the Labor Government’s $5 billion plan to deliver a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder to every Victorian child over the next decade, with the rollout beginning in 2020.
This investment is about making sure Geelong families have access to stronger support in early childhood, so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
“We promised we would build a new Child and Family Centre here in Highton and working in partnership with the council, we’ve delivered.”
“Great kindergartens are the foundation of lifelong learning – that’s why we are delivering historic investment in early childhood services across the state and making 3 year-old kinder a reality for even more families.”
As stated by Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
“We know that education begins far earlier than a child’s first step into primary school. This facility will give Highton families the facilities, head start and opportunities they need and deserve.”
As stated by Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
“Kindergartens play such an important role preparing kids to get the most out of their education – it’s only Labor who will make the investments in kinder so Geelong’s kids get the very best start in life.”
