Council welcomes Cohuna early learning, child care centre start date

Published on 30 October 2024

Gannawarra Shire Council has welcomed confirmation that the Cohuna Early Learning and Childcare Centre will be operational in time for the start of the 2027 school year.

Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn announced yesterday that the opening date for the centre, to be constructed at Cohuna Consolidated School, building on from a similar announcement made in December 2023 that the State Government would construct the much-needed facility.

“Council welcomes this amazing announcement, which is another significant milestone in a community-led campaign to improve current and future early childhood development and child care needs,” Council Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amanda Wilson said.

The new facility will feature kindergarten rooms that would cater for the three-year-old kindergarten sessions and the new Pre-Prep program, which will replace the current four-year-old kindergarten program in 2025, as well as Long Day Care rooms, a Maternal and Child Health consulting room and space for supported playgroups, professional consultations and meetings.

“Council will work with the State Government to ensure the building matches the community’s needs, which were outlined in the Exploring Care and Education in Cohuna Final Report, published in February 2023,” Ms Wilson said.

“More importantly, the establishment of the Cohuna Early Learning and Childcare Centre will ease the pressure on our current child care programs, with some families currently having to wait at least 12 months to access long day care due to limited options.”

The announcement coincided with a visit from Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Angie Bell and Federal Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, who spent time with Council staff, health and business leaders, and residents who led the community-led campaign to discuss child care access issues.

“Although confirmation of an establishment date for the Cohuna Early Learning and Childcare Centre was the key item of discussion, our presentation also focused on the need to attract additional early childhood education staff to the area,” Ms Wilson said.

“The establishment of the new centre at Cohuna and the rollout of the Pre-Prep program will result in new employment opportunities in this sector, however we need to attract people to these jobs to support the rollout of these programs.

“Council thanks Ms Bell and Dr Webster for visiting the Gannawarra, and we look forward to seeing how their efforts can assist in boosting support for child care within the municipality.”

ABOVE: Brooke Arnold (Gannawarra Shire Council Manager Children’s Services) (left), Amanda Wilson (Gannawarra Shire Council Acting Chief Executive Officer), Penny Lunghusen, Tenielle Edge, Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Angie Bell and Paul Fernee (Gannawarra Shire Council Director Community Wellbeing) following a meeting held at Cohuna on 29 October. This meeting occurred on the same day the State Government confirmed that the Cohuna Early Learning and Childcare Centre will be operational in time for the start of the 2027 school year.