Kiarna Cluderay
Kindergarten children in Morwell have new playground equipment at two learning centres to improve their learning opportunities.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing officially opened the new facilities on Monday at the Carinya Early Learning Centre and the Elizabeth Wilmot Kindergarten which will allow the youngsters to develop their skills in an inclusive learning environment.
The Cariyna Early Learning Centre has welcomed new features which include a barbecue area, sand pit, teepees and pockets of open grassy areas with new wooden play equipment to come. The area allows for wheelchair access with ramps and paved pathways.
Ms Shing said the new playground equipment had enough room for the 44 children attending the centre to run around and play to keep them active.
“Having inclusive spaces just like this one provides a better environment for mixed indoor and outdoor learning,” Ms Shing said.
“[The equipment] also encourages individual and group play to really enable [children] to reach their full potential.”
The state government provided $200,000 to the Cariyna Early Learning Centre and $180,000 to the Elizabeth Wilmot Kindergarten for the new facilities.
The funding the government provided “is really important because what we want is for every child to participate actively in their early years’ educational settings,” Latrobe City councillor Kellie O’Callaghan said.
“We need facilities that are high quality, that are the best possible standard and our locals do deserve it,” she said.
