Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp announced the centre would receive extra funding next year while remaining centres in Campaspe would receive money in 2021.
The funding can be used on programs to improve children’s language development, social and emotional resilience and support access and inclusion in kindergarten.
Kindergarten services will be able to tap into the expertise of speech and occupational therapists, language and literacy professionals and child psychologists.
“We know the impact that a quality early learning program can have on a child’s future, which is why we’re giving more kindergarten services extra funding to support Victorian children,” Mark Gepp said.
“School Readiness Funding will provide kindergartens in Echuca access to things that will truly make a difference to children’s lives.”
The Australian-first initiative will be expanded to about 800 kindergartens in 32 local government areas in 2020 – with services in Hume, Greater Shepparton, Mitchell, Moira, Moreland, Murrindindi and Strathbogie to receive School Readiness Funding for the first time.
The government is investing around $160 million over the next four years to deliver School Readiness Funding in all funded kindergarten programs for three and four-year-old children in both long day care and sessional kindergarten settings.
School Readiness Funding is a permanent part of the kindergarten system that will be available to all Victorian funded kindergarten services by 2021 to address educational disadvantage.
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