MAKING KINDER BUILDINGS AND PLAYGROUNDS MORE INCLUSIVE
Thursday, 19 December 2019
The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring that children of all abilities get the best out of their time at kinder, thanks to the following upgrades: Cire Children’s Services, Mount Evelyn; Pakenham Heights Kindergarten and Beaconsfield Kindergarten (O’Neil Road).
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing today announced that the three services were part of 54 services to secure funding to upgrade their buildings or playgrounds and make them more inclusive and accessible for children with additional needs.
The Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program playground and buildings stream provides up to $200,000 in upgrades to create more inclusive and welcoming environments for all children.
| SERVICE | FUNDING AMOUNT | PROJECT DETAILS |
| Cire Children’s Services Mount Evelyn | $ 108,528.39 | An inclusive and engaging outdoor space that enhances playing opportunities for all children and one that is easily accessible for those with a disability/on the spectrum. |
| Pakenham Heights Kindergarten | $ 94,000.00 | Upgraded accessible Car Park spaces so participants are as close as possible to the accessible public entrance, widened internal and external doors. It will also create an access ramp that leads to the outdoor environment, create an accessible path to the sandpit, create a sensory garden/seating area around the tree trunk and provide accessible sandpit to ensure inclusiveness. |
| Beaconsfield Kindergarten – O’Neil Rd | $ 18,354.54 | Acoustic wall panels in our two kindergarten rooms to help absorb sound. This will make the kindergarten rooms quieter, providing a better learning space for all children, particularly those with additional needs (for example, ASD or hearing impairments). |
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 included $6 million for the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program to help kindergartens across the state provide safe and inclusive environments for children with additional needs.
Making Victoria the Education State starts with the early years. That’s why, in an-Australian first, the Victorian Government has committed almost $5 billion to deliver 15 hours of funded three-year-old kindergarten programs to children in Victoria over the next decade.
Three-Year-Old Kindergarten will be rolled out progressively across the state, with families in 21 regional LGAs to benefit in 2020 and 2021. The roll-out will continue progressively across the state, with families in a further 15 regional LGAs to benefit in 2021. This will be expanded in 2022 to give three-year olds across the rest of the state access to five hours of funded kindergarten, before being scaled up to a full 15-hour program by 2029.
The Labor Government’s investment in Three-Year-old Kinder also includes $473.2 million over five years for early childhood infrastructure, which will support the sector to invest in new and expanded kindergarten facilities, when and where they are needed most.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“These upgrades will make a big difference in ensuring children of all abilities attending kindergarten in these locations get the support they need to thrive.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing
“These grants will provide local kinders with resources that improve outdoor spaces, accessibility and the sensory environment for more of Victoria’s kids, and they are a crucial part of making our early learning environments and classes as welcoming, inclusive and diverse as possible.”