Best Start, Best Life for Kids in Hughesdale

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will make sure kids in Hughesdale and surrounding suburbs have the very best start in life with a $1 million grant for Hughesdale Kinder.

With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way children develop.

That’s why the Andrews Labor Government has introduced massive reforms to early childhood education, investing $9 billion over a decade.

We’re making kinder free for all three and four-year-olds in Victoria – saving families in the Oakleigh electorate up to $2,500 a year on fees for each child.

We’re creating more childcare places in the areas of highest demand by building 50 state owned childcare centres in so called ‘childcare deserts’ – making sure more Victorian families can access high quality education and care.

And we’ve embarked on an ambitious plan to completely change the way early childhood education is delivered in our state. Over the next ten years, the 15 hours per week program of four-year-old kinder will progressively transition into Pre-Prep.

Pre-Prep will be a free, universal, 30 hours per week program of play-based learning – helping prepare the littlest Victorians for school and supporting working families in the Oakleigh electorate by lowering childcare costs.

Our Best Start, Best Life early education childcare reforms aren’t just about supporting the learning and development of Victorian kids – they will also bring massive economic benefits to our state.

Currently, lack of access to childcare takes almost 26,600 women entirely out of the workforce in Victoria and costs our economy $1.5 billion per year in lost earnings alone.

Independent analysis from Deloitte shows Best Start, Best Life will boost Victoria’s workforce by up to 24,800 FTE and increase the state’s real GSP by between $1.9 billion and $2.8 billion in 2032-33.

Only Labor is doing what matters by investing in our early childhood education sector, delivering better outcomes for kids and families across the Oakleigh electorate.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos

“I’m so pleased Labor is backing Hughesdale Kinder which has been serving the community for 70 years.”

“Every family deserves to have access to a great local kinder like the Hughesdale community kinder. We know how important it is for kids to get the best possible start in life. That’s why a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will deliver $1 million to this wonderful not-for-profit kinder.”

“Kids learn through play and 90 per cent of their brain development happens before they turn five. Labor is doing what matters – investing in local childcare centres and kindergartens and investing in the future of our children.”