DOREEN’S Orchard Road Community and Early Learning Centre will receive a boost to its facilities following the announcement of a $77,808 grant.
Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green last week visited the centre to announce the State Government grant, from the latest round of the Building Blocks Improvement stream.
Across the state, 49 kinders will share in more than $3.5 million to upgrade or improve the amenity of their facilities or purchase new technology devices.
The Orchard Road centre is an integrated children’s service, which has been in operation for five years.
With the continuing rollout of the State Government’s funded three-year-old kindergarten program in 2022, the Orchard Road service will be increasingly in demand.
The funding will be used to refurbish and upgrade the centre’s outdoor learning space.
“We’re proud to be improving early childhood services here in Doreen – helping local families access local kinders equipped with better facilities for their children and setting them up for the rest of their lives,” Ms Green said.
Building Blocks grants are available to councils and not-for-profit organisations delivering funded kindergarten programs.
They can apply for grants of up to $300,000 to renovate and refurbish their centre or up to $50,000 for a minor improvement project, as well as up to $1500 to upgrade technology devices.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt said the government wanted to ensure all children could fully participate at their kinder, so it was crucial to upgrade facilities and equip them with technology to create modern, inclusive and interactive learning environments
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services so our children right across the state can get the most out of their great local kindergartens, giving them the best start in life,” she said.
From 2022, three-year-old children across the state will have access to at least five hours of kindergarten. Services will then scale up their hours to reach the full 15-hour program by 2029.
For more information and the Building Blocks program, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.
