Labor pledges big kinder build

STATE Labor says its pledge to upgrade early education across Victoria will create nearly 1,000 extra kindergarten places in Geelong by 2029.

Announced last week by Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos, the investment in three-year-old kinder of more than $1.68 billion over the next decade will see about 785 new kinders built and 170 existing services expanded across the state.

For Geelong families, Labor says its pledge to deliver a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder here is equivalent to more than 20 new early education services.

Labor will begin working with councils and communities on their local kinders on its first day in office, and the investment includes a massive injection of funds into the state government’s existing Children’s Facilities Capital Program, which provides financial support to local councils and organisations to fund their own builds and upgrades.

Under the almost $5 billion investment, every Victorian child will have access to at least five hours of subsidised three-year-old kinder by 2022, progressively scaled up to 15 hours per week over the next decade.

About a quarter of Victorian families will pay nothing at all for three-year-old kinder. Families with a higher income will have 65 per cent of their child’s kindergarten costs covered by the state goverment, consistent with the existing subsidy for four-year-old kinder.

“From counting to colouring, kinder is a time for children to learn and explore. But they can’t do that without a great local kindergarten,” Mr Andrews said.

“This investment will help get Victorian kids ready for school and set them up for life.”