Centre celebrates special milestone

IT has been a year since the Y Ballarat’s Learn and Swim centre opened in Brown Hill providing a place for families to experience early learning in one location.

The centre includes a kindergarten, long day care centre and swim school, catering to children from six weeks to five years old.

Centre director Bhawana Gurung said having these facilities under the same roof is convenient for families and a unique offering.

“Especially since we do have kinder and long day care it’s a very easy transition for parents,” she said.

“All they need to do is maybe walk 10 metres and get their children ready for swim school instead of having to pick them up, put them in the car and drive them to another location.

“Parents definitely find it very convenient that we have long day care and swimming school under the same roof as it saves them a lot of time.”

Ms Gurung said the highlight over the last year has been working with the next generation.

“The children are happy, they are stimulated, and they love coming here,” she said.

“That is our most memorable and most valued achievement as a centre.”

Currently there are 33 places in the free kindergarten program and this is expected to double to 66 next year.

“We always planned to make it slow and steady so it was about building the team and getting to know the community, but we have definitely established that,” said Ms Gurung.

“Initially we had fewer children, and the numbers are slowly increasing.

“The aim is to keep growing to keep providing care and education.”

To find out more about the centre’s offerings, visit the Y Ballarat website.