In 2023, the government announced a plan to build 50 childcare centres across the state by 2028.
With four having been built since the proposal, state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland addressed the government’s commitment to child care in a recent sitting week of parliament.
“This government’s inability to deliver these facilities in a timely manner has failed families across our state, particularly those in regional areas where child care is so hard to come by,” Ms Cleeland said.
“By 2024, Labor’s timelines had blown out to 2032, with communities now concerned if these childcare centres will be built at all.
“It’s been nearly a full year since that last announcement, so I have called for this commitment now in the hopes that we won’t see these timelines pushed back yet another four years.”
Although child care is primarily a Commonwealth responsibility, the government has planned to establish these 50 childcare centres as government-owned and -operated.
These centres are set to be built in 28 regional communities.
Ms Cleeland said the Seymour centre was one of 26 that remained without a timeline or site for construction.
“Seymour is just one of many local towns that have been consistently crying out for more child care,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Meanwhile, several other towns within the region were never even considered for one of these centres in the first place.
“The lack of childcare options is placing a significant barrier on young people who want to raise their family in regional Victoria, and it must be addressed.”
In response, a government spokesperson said the Seymour centre was likely to be open before 2032.
“Annabelle Cleeland is one of the Liberal and National Party blockers in parliament who tried to prevent us from delivering 50 early learning and childcare centres to the areas they’re needed most,” the spokesperson said.
“She is wrong — the Seymour centre will open well before 2032 and other Early Learning Victoria centres will open from this year through to 2032, helping to meet strong demand in communities.
“Annabelle Cleeland should stop making it harder for regional families to get the best possible start in life for their children and support our efforts to make that best start accessible for everyone.”
Between 2025 and 2027, the government is set to deliver 1134 new kinder places for families in Benalla, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie local government areas.
Three new kinder services that opened up this year, at Wallan Secondary College Kindergarten, Yea Uniting Kindergarten and MacKillop Early Learning Centre, have provided up to 335 kinder places.
In 2026, four new services are set to open up to offer 423 kinder places, at the Greater Beveridge Community Centre, Our Lady of the Way Children’s Hub in Wallan, Wallan East Primary School Kindergarten (interim name) and Nagambie Kindergarten and Early Childhood Service.
The following year, kinder services are set to open at Benalla P-12 College (Clarke St Campus) and Wallan East Integrated Family and Children’s Centre, creating about 356 new kinder places.
Two Early Learning Victoria centres have been proposed to be built in Seymour and Alexandra in coming years, and two kinder projects have been planned in the Mitchell Shire.
Despite these proposed new available spaces, Ms Cleeland said the government was failing to deliver improved outcomes for regional families.
“Each year, we see this government mention kinder, child care and education so many times in press conferences, motions, bills and more,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Yet, when it comes to action, we have seen very little, and our communities continue to suffer.”
For more information on the 50 Early Learning Centres Victoria to be constructed across the state, head to schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/50-early-learning-victoria-centres
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