DOZENS OF KINDERS CREATE 6,500 NEW PLACES FOR KIDS IN 2025
The Allan Labor Government is making sure thousands more children get a high-quality education at a local kindergarten with dozens of new or expanded services opening this year– creating more than 6,500 kinder places.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas visited Lancefield Kinder in February to celebrate the new kinder year and officially open the service – one of 65 new or expanded services welcoming children in 2025.
The new and upgraded kinders are helping address demand in Australia’s fastest growing state where more than 70,000 children are starting three-year-old kindergarten this year, with around 80,000 children joining four-year-old kindergarten.
Twenty of these kindergartens are opening at government schools, providing up to 2,575 new kinder places for Victorian children – and saving parents time during busy periods by eliminating the dreaded double drop-off.
Another 45 new or expanded kindergartens are opening at council, non-government school and other sector sites, supported by Labor Government funding through Building Blocks Partnerships and Capacity Building grants. These projects will collectively create more than 4,000 new kindergarten places.
Free Kinder continues to save nearly 154,000 families up to $2,627 in fees per child at sessional kindergartens and up to $2,101 per child at long day care centres.
The Labor Government is investing billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens across the state. It’s all part of our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, which are transforming early childhood education, saving families money and supporting parents and carers to return to work or study if they choose.
Quote attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
“Families in Macedon deserve access to modern early learning facilities close to home. Our focus on education ensures local kinders are ready to meet the needs of our growing community, providing more places and better facilities.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
“Only a Labor Government prioritises the education of children and cost of living relief. This year we’re opening 20 kinders on school sites and continuing Free Kinder to save families up to $2,627 – all to give children the best start in life.”
“Our Best Start, Best Life reforms are delivering 65 kindergartens this year and thousands of kindergarten places right across the state – so more children and families can access a world-class kinder close to home.”
