More regional childcare centres needed: Cleeland

By Georgia Tacey

Jun 9, 2023

Early education advocate: Annabelle Cleeland is continuing to campaign for increased childcare facilities across the Euroa electorate. Photo by Love by Lou Photography

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is continuing to campaign for increased childcare facilities across the electorate.

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During the most recent sitting of Victorian parliament, Ms Cleeland said she asked the Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt to select Avenel as a location for a childcare centre as part of the government’s 50 new early learning centre commitment.

“Unfortunately, Avenel is one of many towns across regional Victoria suffering from insufficient childcare facilities,” she said.

“With neighbouring towns like Nagambie also struggling with wait-lists, it is imperative that Avenel has the facilities needed to provide childcare locally to all who need it.”

Ms Cleeland said she had recently visited Avenel to meet with members of the Goulburn Regional Preschool Association to learn about the problems that regional childcare providers faced.

“Speaking with local providers, I am told that if the government allocated a childcare service to Avenel, it can be added to the current kindergarten site,” she said.

“This would allow for the existing staff to be utilised in both the kindergarten and the childcare facility, with only a few extras needed to be hired to provide this service.”

Fifty new early learning centres are set to open across Victoria, with Seymour one of the areas already confirmed to be a beneficiary.