State cash for childcare

A $100,000 State Government grant will help build a new childcare and community services hub in Springvale.
Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand announced the grant this week and said it was stage one of $1 million which was to be spent on Greater Dandenong.
The City of Greater Dandenong’s family services manager Mark Doubleday welcomed the funding and said it would help the council plan for the future.
He said it would likely become used in the development of the planned Springvale children’s and community services hub.
“We have 40 facilities and many were built more than 30 years ago,” he said. “Council has already taken a leadership role through the development of an integrated children’s facility in Springvale.
“This funding will help us to continue this work and respond to the diverse needs of families and children in this city.”
Mr Doubleday said Greater Dandenong had approximately 16,000 children under the age of eight. “Council’s aim is to ensure that these children get access to the most contemporary, affordable and accessible services through this integrated service model,” he said.