Children and families in Sunshine will benefit from the opening of a new childcare centre in 2025, that is set to provide 130 new spaces for local kids.
The state government announced 50 new childcare centres for Victoria, with the first four to open in Sunshine, Fawkner, Eaglehawk North and Murtoa.
The services will offer childcare and three- and-four-year-old kindergarten, as well as spaces for maternal and child health and allied health.
Brimbank mayor Bruce Lancashire said council welcomes the news that one of the first state government-owned and operated childcare centres will be set up in Sunshine.
“It’s fantastic to see Victorian Government investment in early childhood education within the Brimbank community,” he said.
“The centre will offer affordable childcare opportunities to local families and additional places for three and four year old kindergarten. It will be co-located at Sunshine Primary School, providing the convenience for a single drop off and allows transitional support for families that have children attending both the childcare centre and the school.”
The centres have been announced in communities that have been assessed as having the greatest need, which considers the availability of childcare in the local area, likely future demand and socio-economic measures, the government said,
Thirty of the 50 locations have already been announced, with the final 20 to be confirmed by the end of this year, and all 50 centres to be operational by 2028.
Between 2030 and 2032 four-year-old kindergarten will transition to pre-prep in Brimbank and funded kindergarten hours will double from 15 to 30 hours a week.
Hannah Hammoud
