The Andrews Labor Government is helping children in Narre Warren South get the best start in life by improving kindergarten facilities.
Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas, has announced that Bridgewater Kindergarten in Narre Warren South will receive funding in the latest round of the Building Blocks Improvement stream. Across the state, 49 kinders will share in more than $3.5 million to upgrade or improve the amenity of their facilities as well as funding for new IT devices.
Bridgewater Kindergarten will receive over $2,000 to fabricate, supply and install children's change tables and update services to meet the needs of the kindergarten. The change tables will be individually designed and custom built to fit the area allocated to maximise space and functionality. Each change table will be fitted with pull out stairs and side runners to enable children to independently access the change table.
Building Blocks grants are available to local councils and not-for-profit organisations delivering funded kindergarten programs. In the Improvement stream, they can apply for grants of up to $300,000 to renovate and refurbish their centre or up to $50,000 for a minor improvement project, as well as up to $1,500 to upgrade IT devices.
So far in 2021, 618 kindergartens across the state have already received a Building Blocks Improvement grant, sharing in more than $4.3 million in funding.
The Building Blocks Grants program is a streamlined overarching funding scheme that supports early childhood providers with new and existing infrastructure and facilities for eligible three and four-year-old kindergarten services.
In an Australian-first, the Victorian Government is investing almost $5 billion this decade to provide three-year-old children with access to an additional year of funded kindergarten programs.
From 2022, three-year-old children across the state will have access to at least five hours of kindergarten. Services will then scale up their hours to reach the full 15-hour program by 2029.
For more information and the Building Blocks program, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt:
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services so our children right across the state can get the most out of their great local kindergartens ─ giving them the best start in life.”
“We want to make sure all children can fully participate at their kinder, so it is crucial that we upgrade facilities and equip them with modern technology to create modern, inclusive and interactive learning environments.”
Quote attributable to Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas MP:
“Building Blocks Grants are helping kindergartens improve their facilities and Bridgewater Kindergarten’s new change tables should help them to continue meeting the needs of the local community.”
“The State Government knows the importance of early childhood learning and is investing in facilities and 3-year-old kindergarten so children get the best start in life.”