07 DecVic Government announces final childcare centre locations
On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn, announced the final 10 locations of the 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres promised under the Government’s Best Start, Best Life Early Childhood Education and Care reforms.
The Premier and Minister Blandthorn announced the sites for 10 childcare centres that will open in 2026, as well as the areas for a further 20 centres set to open in 2027 and 2028 which extend across metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria.
The 10 centres set to open in 2026 will be co-located with existing government schools where there is a need for more childcare. The centres will create more than 950 new places for children across childcare and three and four-year-old kindergarten and will have space for allied services like Maternal and Child Health and Allied Health where possible.
The new centres opening in 2026 will be located at Clunes Primary School, Hallam Primary School, Harrisfield Primary School, Kings Park Primary School, McClelland Secondary College, Numurkah Primary School, Portland South Primary School, Wedderburn College, Wilmot Road Primary School and Wyndham Park Primary School.
The 20 new locations opening in 2027 and 2028 will be in Alexandra, Avoca, Bendigo South, Casterton, Churchill, Cohuna, Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Drouin, Hamilton, Maffra and District, Melton West, Mickleham, Newborough, Nicholson and District, Roxburgh Park, Warrnambool, Wollert, Wonthaggi–Inverloch, and Woori Yallock.
Where possible, these 20 centres will be located at or alongside government schools, hospitals, TAFEs and other major employers, making childcare more accessible and convenient – as well as affordable – for busy families.
The first four 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.
