By JESSE GRAHAM
A MILLION-dollar refurbishment of a Healesville kindergarten will see indigenous children accessing better services after the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre was opened last week.
The centre was officially opened by Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell, indigenous elder Aunty Dot Peters, Seymour MP and Eildon candidate Cindy McLeish and Yarra Ranges Mayor Fiona McAllsiter on Tuesday 13 May.
The official opening comes after a $1.07 million refurbishment to the centre, as part of the Wurun Child and Family Place network, which finished in early February.
President of Robyn Jane Children’s Centre Susan Ratcliff said the journey towards the refurbishment started about three years ago and that the newly-opened centre would have a range of services under one roof.
Indigenous children’s services, such as the Boorai Early Years program, will be available at the centre, which has a strong focus on improving access to education and health services for indigenous families.
Ms Lovell said at the opening that the key to reducing inequality and disadvantage in the indigenous community was providing access to education, something she had been told by her mentor as a child.
“We know that quality early years services can make a real difference to a child’s chances in life,” she said.
“This upgrade will boost access to culturally relevant children’s services for local aboriginal families and demonstrates our commitment to closing the gap for aboriginal families and ensuring their children have the best chance to realise their potential.”
She said that all the people involved in the refurbishment should be proud of the result, and that the project has increased the day care and kindergarten places at the centre from 35 to 68.
Funding for the refurbishment came from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, along with $56,000 from the Yarra Ranges Council and $19,000 fundraised by the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre.
Groups involved in the expansion were the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre, Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association (HICSA), Yarra Valley Community Health, Healesville Early Childhood Intervention Program, Eastern Access Community Health, KinderLink, Ranges Community Health, Yarra Ranges Council’s Maternal and Child Health Service, Healesville Primary School and Anglicare
The newly upgraded centre is in Haig Avenue, Healesville, and the Wurun Child and Family Place buildings in the precinct will open to the public on Saturday 31 May as part of Reconciliation Week.
For more information on the centre, call 5962 4842.
For more information about the open day, call 9294 6207.
