Chesters commits to schools and childcare funding for a better education under Labor

04 May 2022

A Labor Government will invest $120,000 in schools and early education across the Bendigo electorate.

Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters has visited Castlemaine Co-Operative Childcare Centre to make the announcements, which includes $20,000 to upgrade the early learning centre under Labor’s Family Infrastructure Grants.

“Castlemaine Co-Op is one of the most sought after childcare centres in the region but the bathrooms and toilets are not currently suitable.

“This funding will upgrade the wet rooms and assist with the development of a master plan, increasing privacy for children, modernising the space and future proofing for years to come,” Chesters said.

Ms Chesters also announced a number of school upgrades, under Labor’s School Upgrades Fund including:

$20,000 Malmsbury Primary School – Frog Bog Outdoor Learning Space
$20,000 Winters Flat Primary School – Climate Control and Air Ventilation
$10,000 Castlemaine Secondary College – Outdoor Learning
$50,000 Maiden Gully Primary School – Transforming the Library

“I’m proud to be able to commit to these projects as local children return to school after home learning,” Chesters said.

Labor’s Schools Upgrade Fund will mean schools can invest in new general classrooms and major upgrades; maintenance on toilets, painting and leaking roofs; and urgent upgrades of ICT equipment, heating, and air-conditioning.

A second grants round in 2023 will be open to public schools to make larger investments like new buildings and facilities, major refurbishments and upgrades.

Labor will work with the state and territory governments and school systems to distribute the grant funding based on need.

After the Liberals cut almost a billion dollars from public school building programs, there hasn’t been recurrent Commonwealth funding for public school facilities since 2017.

This announcement builds on Labor’s other plans for education including 20,000 extra university places, 465,000 free TAFE places, and making early learning cheaper for working families.