Media response - Kindergarten funding
Published on 19 April 2023
Approach from The Age
The Municipal Association of Victoria has warned that 70 per cent of council-owned kinder centres are more than 40 years old, with more than 300 buildings needing to be renovated or replaced to accommodate free three-year-old kinder.
This is estimated to cost $750m and does not include additional requirements needed for prep-prep kids at four years old.
The Herald Sun is aware the Monash City Council’s own estimates place the cost of three-year-old kinder at about $70m, and that you have sought full funding support for this and reforms to four-year-old kinder.
- Why is it important the state gov cover these costs fully?
- If they do not, what impact will this have on council budgets, rates etc?
- Please explain as best possible the scale of the changes needed to adopt the government's reforms?
- How many centres does the council run and how much work is needed to match demand?
Response
Monash Council has worked with the Victorian Government to deliver outstanding outcomes for families and young people such as the recently opened and jointly funded Pinewood Child and Family Hub that combines services and facilities for families under one roof.
We’re supportive of plans to expand the free kindergarten available in Victoria, but the Victorian Government needs to provide financial support to councils to ensure that current kindergarten buildings can be expanded and upgraded to accommodate this. Expanding the four-year-old kindergarten program to 30 hours from 15 halves the capacity of the kindergartens and comes on top of the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten.
Monash Council owns 26 kindergartens, typically single room facilities originally built decades ago that have limited scope to accommodate additional programs. We estimate that the required investment to ensure our facilities and infrastructure can support this change is at least $70m and seek commitment from the Victorian Government to fully fund this.
Issued: 14 April 2023
To: The Age
Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija