Labor pledges more childcare in Portarlington

LABOR will build a low-cost childcare centre in Portarlington as part of a statewide initiative if it wins tomorrow’s (Saturday, November 26) state election.

Portarlington will be one of the locations of 50 government-owned and operated early education centres, which Labor says are slated to be built “in the communities that need them most”.

The $584 million commitment will see all the centres be up and running by 2028, and Labor has revealed locations for the first 30 of them.

The centres, which will deliver childcare, kindergarten, and eventually pre-prep and where possible other early childhood services.

Four of the centres will be co-located at Eaglehawk North Primary School, Moomba Park Primary School, Murtoa College and Sunshine Primary School respectively. These four centres will be fast-tracked and open in 2025.

Labor says its commitment, announced by Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday, comes on top of its pledge to roll out 30 hours of pre-prep across the state and a plan to invest $159 million as part of a major workforce package to attract, retain, and develop talented and dedicated professionals.

Under this package, there will be 700 extra early childhood scholarships – worth between $12,000 to $34,000 – available to people looking to become early childhood teachers through undergraduate degree pathways, and extra incentives of between $9,000 and $50,000 for teachers and educators moving into or rejoining the sector and for priority services in places that struggle to find qualified staff.

“Having access to free childcare is a game changer for families in regional Victoria – giving parents, particularly mothers more options to get back to work while giving their children the best possible start in life,” Labor candidate for Bellarine Alison Marchant said.

“Only Labor supports the incredible childcare workforce and the valuable work they do – that’s why we’re investing in new incentives to attract more people to the workforce especially for those who move to priority areas where their work is most needed.”

Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt said: “Our early childhood educators do an incredible job. We’ll back their work with more opportunities to upskill, retrain and start a new career.”