New Partnership to Deliver More Catholic Kinders
Thousands of new kindergarten places are set to be created as the Allan Labor Government, in partnership with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education (MACSEYE), builds and upgrades kinders at 12 low-fee Catholic schools. Announced by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn, this first-ever Building Blocks Partnership (BBP) will deliver 12 early childhood centres, providing over 2,100 kindergarten places for local families in outer suburbs.
Each centre will offer up to 178 kindergarten places for three- and four-year-olds, out-of-hours school care, and family consulting services. The Labor Government is investing $81 million, with MACSEYE contributing $7.5 million. Nine centres will open in 2026, with three more in later years.
Locations for new centres:
– St Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Primary School
– New schools in Mount Atkinson and Thornhill Park
– Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School (Wallan East)
– Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (Mickleham)
– Oscar Romero Catholic Primary School (Craigieburn West)
– Glowrey Catholic Primary School (Wollert)
– Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School (Wollert West)
– St Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Primary School (Tarneit North)
Three additional locations will be announced later.
This partnership is part of the Labor Government’s broader effort, investing billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens, supporting 15 hours of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten by 2029 and 30 hours of Pre-Prep by 2036, adding more than 13,300 extra kinder places across the state.
Minister Lizzie Blandthorn emphasized the importance of kindergarten in a child’s education and the significant impact of providing over 2,100 extra places for children and families in growing suburbs.