The first of the Rudd Government’s 38 Priority Early Learning and Care Centres will be built in Craigieburn, Victoria, and will be integrated within the Craigieburn Child and Family Centre.
The Craigieburn Child and Family Centre will deliver a range of services including child care, preschool, playgroups, maternal and child health and allied health services.
The Centre is a jointly funded project, with the Commonwealth Government investing $1.6 million, the Brumby Government contributing $1.4 million, and Hume City Council providing $3.3 million.
Craigieburn Child and Family Centre will provide a total of 150 licensed places and deliver preschool and early learning programs. The Commonwealth Government’s capital contribution will create 60 places in the facility.
Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, said this is a good example of governments working together to provide better services for communities.
“This is a terrific proposal for a centre that will offer Craigieburn families a range of quality services under one roof,” she said.
“I’m delighted that the first of the Commonwealth’s 38 priority centres will be co-located as part of an integrated service, along the lines of the Prime Minister’s 2020 vision for parent and child centres.
“When governments combine their resources in this way we’re able to deliver better outcomes for children and families”.
Minister Morand said this project is a great example of strong partnerships between all levels of government and the community to provide children with facilities and services to give them the best possible start in life.
“The Rudd Government has joined the Brumby Government in taking action to help Victorian families by investing significantly in early year’s centres, which provide parents with a comprehensive range of services.
“Victoria is experiencing the biggest baby boom in a generation - 2,589 babies were born in Hume City last year, a 23 per cent increase from five years ago.
“Integrated facilities provide a diverse range of services that are very important in supporting the health and development of children and making access to those services more convenient for families.’’
Hume Mayor, Cr Mohamad Abbouche, said growing communities like Craigieburn need facilities to grow with them, and this project is possible because of strong support from all levels of government.
“Integrating a range of diverse services at a new Child and Family Centre in Craigieburn is about supporting families and giving children the best possible start to a bright future,” Cr Abbouche said.
Craigieburn was nominated as a priority location during last year’s federal election campaign.
The Rudd Government is investing $114.5 million over four years to establish 38 priority Early Learning and Care Centres, all of which will be operational by 2010.
Victoria has been allocated 11 of those centres, including one autism-specific centre.
Construction of the Craigieburn Child and Family Centre is expected to commence in mid 2009 and the Centre is expected to be operational from July 2010.