Community
1 May, 2026
Plans to expand Skipton childcare
SKIPTON’S Early Years Facility is set to see an expansion in response to the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms, with Corangamite Shire Council voting support the expansion at this week’s council meeting.
The approval will see the chief executive officer proceed with an application to the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) for funding to deliver a modular kindergarten at the site at 8 Montgomery Street.
The site is across the road from Skipton Primary School and is neighboured by the Skipton Progress Association and Foodbank.
Coordinator education and care Eliza Ogden said the current site hosts both childcare and kindergarten throughout the week.
“Expansion will be required by 2029, when Corangamite will offer 25 hours of funded four-year-old kindergarten to ensure that childcare is not disrupted,” she said.
“An unintended consequence of the Best Start, Best Life reform has resulted in reduced childcare demand for children of eligible kindergarten age.
“The demand for childcare access for children under three years of age continues to be high in Corangamite.
“It is anticipated that this trend will continue for infants seeking childcare, with preschool aged children accessing the free funded kindergarten program.”
Skipton is identified as being in a childcare desert, with 0.537 places per child available.
Ms Ogden said the childcare and kindergarten programs in Skipton were highly regarded by the community, with strong demand for more hours and increased places present.
“Council has been managing the Skipton Early Years facility for many years, having transitioned responsibility from a parent-run Committee of Management to an Early Years Manager (EYM),” she said.
“The Montgomery Street site is owned by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
“Renovations to the current facility were completed in 2021 in readiness for the rollout of 15 hours of three-year-old kindergarten.
“Best Start, Best Life reform milestone deliverables will see Corangamite be required to offer 25 hours of funded kindergarten by 2029 and 30 hours from 2031.”
The application to VSBA will ask for $2.5 million to fund the modular build, which will enable both programs to run at the same time at the same facility due to sufficient outdoor space, and a further $18,000 to prepare the site.
Council will then fund the fit out – predicted to cost $30,000 – and a project contingency of $20,000.
Ms Ogden said the physical expansion of the current facility presents an opportunity to increase the childcare program to better meet community need.
“Any service changes would be contingent on approval from the Commonwealth Government (Child Care Community Fund),” she said.
“Business case modelling has considered multiple models of operation and combinations of childcare places.
“There is an emerging need for childcare for children under the eligible kindergarten age.
“Typically, this is children under three, which legislation requires a higher staff to child ratio, driving a higher program cost.
“It is proposed that a nine-hour per day childcare program be introduced over five days, for 50 weeks of the year – this will create an additional 24 available sessions to families per week for an additional four weeks of the year.”
Expansion of the facility will create an additional 33 spaces for children, with potential for an increase if staffing levels and demand are sufficient.
Council will provide an operational subsidy of $18,000 per year to support the delivery of the program.
Read More: Skipton