New kindergarten officially unveiled

The new kindergarten co-located at Docklands Primary School was officially opened last month with a visit from Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt.

Minister Stitt joined students and educators, Member for Northern Metropolitan Sheena Watt and Docklands Primary School principal Adam Bright in celebrating the important milestone for the Docklands community on April 22.

Gowrie Docklands Kindergarten includes two children’s rooms and outdoor learning terraces on the first floor of the school. Gowrie Victoria is the approved provider and will offer sessional and integrated kindergarten programs for both three- and four-year-old children.

“We know that education begins far earlier than a child’s first step into primary school. This new kindergarten gives Docklands children the early years centre and education they need and deserve,” Minister Stitt said.

Gowrie Docklands Kindergarten is the first of nine kindergartens on school sites already announced as part of a $283 million state government program.

The government has delivered a number of new kindergartens on existing school sites each year to support the roll-out of three-year-old kindergarten, and the co-location of services. It has continued this trend by ensuring that every Victorian primary school to open from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door.

This includes Docklands Primary School and the other nine new primary schools which opened in 2021, as well as all six new primary schools opening in 2022 •

For more information: gowrievictoria.org.au