Delivered in 2026, these Early Learning Centres form part of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms, expanding access to free kindergarten and early learning across regional Victoria.
Located in Clunes, Portland and Teesdale, each centre is co-located with an active primary school, strengthening early connections between learning, care and community. The centres are operated by Early Learning Victoria and delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) as part of the State’s investment in early years infrastructure.
Each centre provides warm, welcoming environments for children and families, with light-filled kindergarten spaces, a Maternal Child Health or Allied health space, and flexible areas that support community use. Strong relationships between indoor and outdoor play spaces encourage exploration, independence and a sense of safety.
The designs were informed by First Nations consultation, acknowledging Country and local cultural context: Wadawurrung Country in Teesdale, Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Clunes, and Gunditjmara Country in Portland.
By placing early learning alongside primary schools, the centres support smoother transitions into school, simplify daily routines for families, and improve access to early learning services within growing regional communities, creating places where children can thrive from the very start.
Photography: Marnie Hawson