The Victorian Government’s first four state-owned and operated childcare centres have now opened their doors.
Premier, Jacinta Allan and Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn (pictured), today joined children and families and staff at Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner to officially open Early Learning Victoria Wimbi.
“We’re standing up for families by opening government-run childcare centres to give them more options for their little ones,” said Premier Allan.
“In a cost of living crisis, helping parents return to work or take on extra shifts makes an enormous difference.”
The brand-new centre has space for up to 130 local children each day, offering long day care as well as three and four-year-old kindergarten programs.
“Victorian families deserve access to high-quality early childhood education and care no matter their postcode – we’re giving our littlest Victorians the best start, so that they get the best opportunities in life,” said Minister Blandthorn.
“This historic investment in early childhood education is about setting our kids up for the future and investing in Victorian families.”
Another three Early Learning Victoria centres – at Sunshine Primary School, Murtoa College and Eaglehawk North Primary School – have also opened their doors for 2025.
More than 400 children across these four sites will be the first to benefit from the 50 new centres. They will all be in areas that need extra childcare places the most and where there are higher rates of disadvantage, the Ministers said.
From next year, 18 Early Learning Victoria locations will deliver more than 1,800 licensed places for local children and families as part of the Labor Government’s nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms to improve access to early childhood education and care.
Interested families can tour Early Learning Victoria centres to learn more about the centre and the programs offered. To find out more visit earlylearning.vic.gov.au/enrol.
