A one-stop-shop community hub has opened in Cranbourne East – bringing together kinder, playgroups and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services under a single roof.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos joined Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett and Cranbourne MP in visiting the Livingstone Family and Community Centre on Thursday 30 August to officially open the $5.7 million facility, which was built thanks to the Andrews Government.
The new centre on Parkhurst Drive features three kindergarten rooms, two MCH consulting rooms, an internet café, a mini sports oval for children and community spaces such as meeting rooms, an outdoor courtyard and a kitchen for hire.
The centre will be able to cater for 135 kindergarten places, with families able to access MCH services, playgroups, parenting programs, early childhood intervention services and other family services.
The State Government provided the City of Casey $1.6 million for the centre through a Children’s Facilities Capital Program major grant.
Ms Mikakos she the State Government was giving little Victorians “the best start in life” with the “smartest investment we can make.”
“We’re making it easier than ever for families to access the services they need to ensure their kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life,” she said.
Mr Perera said the centre will not only provide more kinder places and easier access to Maternal and Child Health services, but also playgroups and parent groups – “all under one roof,” he said.
City of Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett said the Livingston Family and Community Centre was an important facility to support Council to deliver services to families in Cranbourne East and surrounds.
“Council has the challenge of ensuring new and growing communities have the infrastructure needed so residents can access important services close to home and have spaces to meet, learn, play and connect.” he said.
“The Livingston Family and Community Centre is a great example of how we’re delivering on that important task.
“While we’re celebrating the official opening this week, the centre has been operating for a few months now, initially welcoming its first cohort of kindergarten students before hosting Maternal and Child Health consultations and taking hire bookings for the community spaces,” he said.
A key feature is the public art entitled ‘At Home On The Edge’ by James Voller, which is a photographic installation constructed out of panels of Digiglass that place an image of a historic weatherboard house taken in the City of Casey into the contemporary architectural forms of the building.
