Upgrading hepburn kinder ahead of three-year-old kinder

Children at Hepburn Kindergarten are set to benefit with an expansion and upgrade ahead of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten starting in 2021, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas today announced Hepburn Kindergarten will receive $240,190 funding to undertake a major upgrade through the Victorian Government’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program (CFCP). The Andrews Labor Government is investing a total of $180,142 to the project, with Hepburn Shire Council contributing $60,048.

This upgrade includes increasing kindergarten capacity ahead of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten beginning in 2021 by providing a new bathroom and laundry, upgrading the existing kitchen, improving the outdoor play area, and improving accessibility.

Under the program, grants of up to $2,000,000 are available for expanding or refurbishing kindergarten facilities.

In an Australian-first, the Victorian Government is investing nearly $5 billion over the next ten years to deliver two years of funded kindergarten for all Victorian children.

The Government is also upgrading infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector to build and expand kindergarten facilities across the state in preparation for the roll-out.

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is starting in 2020 in six regional local government areas – South Gippsland, Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, Strathbogie and Yarriambiack, with the program to be progressively rolled out across the state.

By 2022, the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program will roll out statewide, with children to have access to at least five hours of kindergarten per week, ensuring every child has a great start in life.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
"We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services as part of our historic $5 billion investment in delivering funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten."

"We’re supporting services across Victoria to deliver Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, while helping them to deliver four-year-old kindergarten programs that will help children in the year before school to thrive."

Quotes attributable Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"I am thrilled that we are investing in Hepburn Kindergarten ahead of the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten rollout in Hepburn Shire in 2021".

"This will ensure that Hepburn children can continue to get the most out of their time at kinder and attend great local services."