Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools is partnering with the Victorian Government to build 12 early years education centres to meet the increasing demand from families in Melbourne’s growing communities. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn visited St Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Primary School, Weir Views in Melbourne’s outer west, to announce that $81 million will be provided for the construction of early years education centres at Catholic schools across the north and west of Melbourne.
MACS executive director Edward Simons said the initiative will be overseen by a new entity known as MACS Early Years Education (MACSEYE), responsible for the growing network of early years services across the Melbourne Archdiocese.
“Victoria’s ‘Best Start, Best Life’ reforms are the biggest changes to the early childhood education sector in a generation, and we are delighted to be partnering with the Victorian Government to support this program, which is so important for so many children and their families across Melbourne,” Dr Simons said.
“We know that significant population growth in Melbourne’s north and west is driving unmet need in these communities for early childhood education.
“These new centres, co-located on Catholic primary school sites, will be available to all families in these suburbs; they will now have a place where their children can learn and grow at kindergarten, and experience a seamless transition from kindergarten to school.”
The 12 new early years education centres will include three-year-old kindergarten and four-year-old pre-prep rooms, plus a range of other services for school children and families in the broader community.
They will provide thousands of additional kindergarten places in Wallan, Weir Views, Mickleham, Craigieburn, Wollert, Thornhill Park, Tarneit and Mount Atkinson.
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Building new kindergartens in growing communities (Melbourne Catholic)
