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Early Years strategic plans, projects and frameworks

Information about early years strategic plans, projects and frameworks in Greater Bendigo.

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Early Years in Greater Bendigo

Children need access to early years education. The City and State Government are working together to help achieve this. Access to infrastructure and quality educators are essential to support this outcome.

There are 22 standalone kindergartens and 30 long day care centres in Greater Bendigo.

The City owns and/or manages 16 facilities on behalf of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). The City also owns and operates two long day care centres.

The City has an Early Years Infrastructure Framework. This provides the strategic guidance needed to plan, deliver and maintain this infrastructure. Complementary to this work is the production of a Kindergarten Infrastructure Services Plan and an Early Years Workforce Plan 2024-2029. Both of these have been funded by the Department of Education.

State Government reforms

The Victorian Government has committed to the rollout of three-year-old kindergarten (up to 15 hours of funded kindergarten) for all children by 2029. Four-year-old kindergarten is transitioning to ‘Pre-Prep’ (a universal, 30-hour a week program of play-based learning). Pre-Prep will be rolled out in Greater Bendigo from 2030.

For more information about the Best Start, Best Life reforms, visit:

Victorian Government: The Best Start, Best Life reforms

Early Years Infrastructure Framework

The Early Years Infrastructure Framework is the City’s plan for the buildings and spaces that need to support young children and families to access quality education and care. This plan seeks to provide a strategic framework to ensure that the supply of infrastructure fits contemporary purposes, and there is adequate supply to meet demand, optimising developmental and learning outcomes for children.

Early Years (capital) projects

Spring Gully Kindergarten

The City received funding from the Department of Education and undertook detailed design for the possible expansion of the Spring Gully Kindergarten to a 99-place facility.

Unfortunately, the City did not receive funding to proceed with the build. This project has been put on hold.

Marong Community Hub and Kindergarten project

The City has secured $5.5M in funding from the Victorian Government to deliver this first stage of a new kindergarten and community hub for Marong. It will initially respond to unmet demand for three and four-year-old kindergarten places in the region. The 99-place kindergarten will help to future-proof this part of Greater Bendigo, one of our key growth areas.

Marong Community Hub and Kindergarten

A new kindergarten will be built in Marong thanks to $5.5M in funding from the Victorian Government.

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Kindergarten Infrastructure and Services Plan

The Kindergarten Infrastructure and Services Plan provides an analysis of future needs, including the projected unmet demand for three-year-old kindergarten and pre-prep places from 2022-2036.

This analysis is used to support infrastructure and workforce needs for future planning in early childhood education, as well as those delivering early education programs.

Kindergarten Infrastructure and Services Plan (PDF, 845KB)

Early Years Workforce Plan

The Early Years Workforce Plan is a five-year plan that supports the supply of the workforce required to deliver the continued scale up of three-year-old kindergarten between 2024 and 2029 and prepares for the roll out of pre-prep from 2032.

This plan considers the role of local government, key stakeholders and partners, current workforce status, reviews gaps and needs and provides recommendations to address these.

Early Years Workforce Plan (PDF, 1585 KB)

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