Melton West has been named as one of the sites of the 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres set to open in the coming years.
As a part of the state government’s $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, it pledged to establish 50 government-owned childcare centres across the state, focusing on areas identified as “childcare deserts”.
Premier Jacinter Allan and Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn announced that Melton West would be one of the recipients of the new centres, to be opened by 2028, on December 5.
According to a 2022 Victoria University study, Melton West has 0.193 available childcare spaces per child.
Victoria University considers a childcare desert to be a populated area where there are more than three children per childcare place, or less than 0.333 places per child aged four or under.
The report considered 35 per cent of areas Australia wide to be childcare deserts.
The first four of the 50 government-owned childcare centres are set to open in 2025 at Moomba Park Primary School, as well as Eaglehawk North Primary School, Murtoa College and Sunshine Primary School.
The exact location of the Melton West centre is yet to be announced although the government said that where possible, centres will be located at or alongside government schools, hospitals, TAFEs and other major employers.
Premier Jacinta Allan said parents need more childcare options, closer to home.
“We’re making sure more Victorian parents can get back to work when they want to, removing the stress they face in constantly searching for childcare – and most importantly, making sure kids are getting the critical early education they need for the best start in life,” she said.
