Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Ministers statements: early childhood education

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:45): I rise to update the house on the first four government owned and operated early learning and childcare centres that have opened their doors this term. Last week I was delighted to attend Moomba Park Primary School to officially open Early Learning Victoria Wimbi, our early learning and childcare centre in Fawkner, alongside the Premier Jacinta Allan and the member for Broadmeadows from the other place. It was great to meet and speak with some of the families and their children who will be benefiting from this centre. It has up to 130 local children each day who can attend, offering long day care as well as free three- and four-year-old kinder programs.

The Commonwealth has the responsibility for child care, but we are stepping in. We are opening another three Early Learning Victoria centres – at Sunshine Primary School, Murtoa College and Eaglehawk North Primary School – and they have opened their doors this year just as we said they would. These centres are all in areas that need extra childcare places the most and are making child care more affordable and helping parents to return to work or study with free kinder provided at each of these centres. All four of these centres are located on school sites, making life easier for busy families, removing the double drop-off. It also makes the transition for children from kinder to school much smoother, and we are integrating our universal services in these centres with space for other supports like maternal and child health, playgroup and allied health services. All of these services can be delivered in each of these four centres. Co-locating these crucial services for families improves access and brings benefits to parents, carers and children.

From next year 18 Early Learning Victoria locations will deliver more than 1800 licensed places for local children and families as part of our nation-leading Best Start, Best Life reforms. But there are alternatives. We all remember last year when those opposite moved a reasoned amendment to prevent us from opening these centres. Whether it be writing to me to oppose free kinder or moving reasoned amendments, those opposite are not committed to the delivery of these 50 early learning and childcare centres. Victorians know it is only this side of the house that will support our littlest learners.