More kinder places are on the way for Melbourne’s growing western suburbs.
A $2 million redevelopment at Epalock Crescent Kindergarten in St Albans will deliver a new two-room kinder.
This will add 33 new licensed places across its three and four-year-old kinder programs.
Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Minister Ingrid Stitt announced the project in May.
It was the latest in a $13.3 million partnership with the City of Brimbank, which will deliver six new and expanded kindergartens to add more than 440 funded kindergarten places.
“We’re giving local families in Melbourne’s growing western suburbs access to a great kinder close to home,” Ms Stitt said.
“With hundreds of new and expanded kindergartens opening across the state, more Victorian families will have access to the high-quality kindergarten services they deserve.”
The existing Epalock Crescent Kindergarten will be demolished at the end of the year so building work can begin next year.
All children enrolled at the kinder will be offered places at nearby centres.
The new facility is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Since 2021, the State Government’s Building Blocks initiative has supported partnerships with 10 local councils, delivering 68 new and expanded kindergartens and creating more than 9250 new kinder places across the state.
Through the $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reform, the State Government is transforming early childhood education over the next decade.
There is $584 million earmarked to build and run 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres in the communities that need them most.
More than 30 locations have already been announced, including one in King’s Park.
