Mayor Jim Memeti, Community Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Janice Mumt, and Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding enjoy the new centre for children in Springvale. 50369 Picture: Kim Cartmell
By Lia Bichel
A NEW multi-million dollar facility for a range of children’s services in Springvale is the first of its kind in the state.
The $7.7 million Springvale Service for Children Centre in Lightwood Road includes a kindergarten, child care, toy library, maternal and child health and community-based services.
The one-stop-shop for parents also has space for community groups to use.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti officially opened the building with Community Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Friday.
He said it was the result of many years of community advocacy for better children’s services in the area.
“Integrated services improve access by children and their families by removing barriers and making it easier for our community to be involved,” he said.
“Learning, social, health and care environments are brought together within a single framework, resulting in the first centre of its kind in Victoria, with a truly inclusive and integrated approach to service planning and delivery.”
Cr Memeti said the council will be working with the service’s board of management to provide the vital services to the community.
“It’s critical that the council supports the provision of quality early childhood care and services, and that these services are reflective of the diversity within our community and sensitive to our many difference cultural needs,” he said.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the State Government was contributing a $500,000 Victorian Community Support Grant to the construction costs of the new centre. While opening the centre, she also launched the Health Kids and Families – Where Our Future Begins Municipal Early Years Plan, which was adopted by the council earlier this year.
The plan enables the council and its community partners to develop and support the wellbeing of children and families within the city. “Given the amount of new families in Springvale, the council should be congratulated for their early years plan,” she said.
Copies of the plan are available from the council’s customer service centre’s libraries and on line at www.greaterdandenong.com.
