Shine Magazine, Issue 3, April 2010 - Department of Education and ...

eARLy CHILDHood
New children’s centre
in Warrnambool JLevey
The new Warrnambool Children’s
Services Centre opened for business in
mid-February and is already helping to
accommodate some of 2300-plus children
aged 0–5 years living in the area. The
$900,000 centre is a partnership between
the Victorian Government, Warrnambool
City Council and the local community and
was opened by Minister for Children and
Early Childhood Development Maxine
Morand.
Ms Morand said the centre was a onestop
shop where whole-of-family support
can be provided at one location. “These
services are exactly what young families
in Warrnambool need,” Ms Morand said.
“This centre integrates long day care,
play groups, kindergarten, and a range of
family support and community services,
which will ensure children have a seamless
transition from early childhood to
kindergarten and then to school,” she said.
The centre features a native garden and a
children’s outdoor play area, as well as a
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand and Gayle Tierney,
MLC for Western Victoria, with children at the new Warrnambool Children’s Services Centre.
range of early childhood and kindergarten
programs. Ms Morand said she was
delighted that the playgroup program
targeted local Aboriginal families. “This
will encourage more Indigenous children
to subsequently move on to three- and
four-year-old kinder – a vital step in
preparing children for a successful
transition to school.”
Shine APRIL 2010 45