Adjournment: Early Childhood Facilities

Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (19:11:23) — (13 941) My adjournment is for the Minister for Early Childhood Education, and the action I seek is that the minister visit the Yuroke electorate to join me in a tour of new kindergarten facilities funded by the Andrews Labor government. These new relocatable buildings will provide 130 sessional kindergarten places for families in Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park, ensuring that local kids get the best start in life with affordable access to learning that is close to home.

Local access to quality learning is a top priority for parents who have chosen to raise their kids in the Yuroke electorate, which is both a growth area and home to one of the largest populations of young families. This latest investment follows three years of significant investment and improved early childhood education infrastructure right across the Yuroke electorate. I thank the minister for delivering these new facilities, and I look forward to her joining me to see firsthand how our community is benefiting from this investment.

Response:

I am informed as follows:

The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a record $76.4 million to build, expand and improve early years infrastructure across Victoria. This includes $10 million targeting growth areas and a further $10 million to co-locate early learning centres with government primary schools. This investment in early-years infrastructure ensures local families can continue to access great local high-quality kindergartens.

In addition to this investment the Andrews Government is also providing $4.25 million through the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution to install relocatable kindergartens in Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park as well as Wyndham Vale and Tarneit.

These brand new, purpose built facilities will provide a rapid response to service needs in these growing suburbs, providing up to 130 sessional kindergarten places in Hume and 250 places in Wyndham.

It was an absolute pleasure to join you recently to officially open one of the two new relocatable kindergarten buildings at the Newbury Child and Community Centre. I understand that both modular buildings are operating for the 2018 calendar year and have seen firsthand the benefits that they are bringing to your local community.

Jenny Mikakos MP
Minister for Families and Children
Minister for Early Childhood Education
Minister for Youth Affairs