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City to apply for funding to expand three kindergartens
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
5:04 PM
Media Releases
City of Greater Geelong is applying for $200,000 grants through the Department of Education and Early Childhood development’s Renovation and Refurbishment Grants.
The grants are being requested to allow local kindergartens in Ocean Grove, Leopold and Grovedale to increase their capacity by building additional rooms.
Community Services portfolio holder Cr Kylie Fisher said there was a shortage of kindergarten places available in a number of communities, particularly across the Bellarine Peninsula.
“Increasing birth rates and population growth in the Bellarine Peninsula has put a lot of pressure on existing kindergarten and early childhood services,” she said.
“The Renovation and Refurbishment Grants program offers a great opportunity for existing kindergartens to expand so that they can cater for more children.”
City of Greater Geelong councillors also determined to apply for funding through the Victorian Government’s Children’s Centre Grants program.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development invited the City to submit an application for funding of up to $1 million to support the development of an integrated children’s centre in Ocean Grove.
Local Councillor Jan Farrell said she was thrilled with Council’s decision to apply for funds to build the municipality’s first integrated children’s centre in Ocean Grove.
“There is considerable pressure on the existing three kindergartens to deliver a program that caters for the needs of the growing number of families in Ocean Grove.”
“We know that we need to deliver extra capacity in a very short time frame,” Cr Farrell said.
Integrated children’s centres provide a range of services, including long day child care, kindergarten and Maternal and Child Health, as well as providing access to early intervention and family support services.
“An integrated children’s centre would ease the demand on existing centres and provide Bellarine Peninsula residents with a convenient location access for a range of family services,” said Cr Fisher.
“Our Early Childhood Infrastructure Plan is currently being finalised and will further clarify local needs and priorities,” she said.
Analysis of Surfside Ocean Grove for the integrated children’s centre is underway and will be completed in time for submission by 16 September 2010.
Cr Richards said the city is working on rolling out several children’s hubs over the next decade.
“Many of our stand-alone kindergartens need to be refurbished and rebuilt,” he said.
“Plans for the Barwon Heads Kindergarten are being worked on by Council officers and the State Government right now.”
“The Federal Government funding needs to be increased in order to meet the COAG requirement of universal access to 15 hours of kindergarten a week for all 4 year olds by 2013.”
“Council is working closely with all Federal and State members to improve children’s services across the city,” said Cr Richards.
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