Three new integrated hubs will open across South Australia, giving families easier access to early education along with health and wellbeing services under one roof.
The hubs – at Melaleuca Park Kindergarten in Mount Gambier, Para Vista Preschool and Aldinga Beach Children’s Centre – will provide extra support for children who need it most to improve their learning and development outcomes.
Each hub will deliver a Preschool Plus program of up to 30 hours a week for 3 and 4-year-olds.
The integrated hubs model includes additional health, wellbeing and other education services to help families and children access the support they need in one place.
$13.1 million will be invested in significant infrastructure upgrades across the three sites, adding a total 160 Preschool Plus places in regional and metropolitan areas.
The hubs are part of the Malinauskas Government’s commitment to establish 20 integrated hubs across the state by 2032.
At Melaleuca Park Kindergarten, site infrastructure will be upgraded to accommodate the new hub – creating 40 Preschool Plus places and a community space.
Concept design works will start next month with the hub set to open to families in 2029.
The existing Para Vista Preschool will be demolished to make way for the new hub, boosting capacity for up to 60 Preschool Plus places.
Minor infrastructure works will occur at Aldinga Beach Children’s Centre to improve the preschool space for up to 60 Preschool Plus places.
In the lead up to the hubs commencing, the Office for Early Childhood Development will work with the nominated sites, local service providers and the community to design the services available to meet the needs of families and children in the area.
These new hubs join a growing network of integrated hubs in South Australia.
Three Department for Education Children’s Centre sites – at Hackham West, Lake Windemere B-6 School and The Parks – are currently being upgraded to launch as integrated hubs in 2027.
The state’s first integrated hubs, at Elizabeth Vale Goodstart Early Learning Centre and Port Pirie West Children’s Centre, opened late last year.
The new hubs are an important part of South Australia’s landmark $1.9 billion early childhood reform agenda, the most significant investment in early childhood in the state’s history.
Quotes
Attributable to Lucy Hood
We know that two years of early childhood education make a big difference, especially for children who need extra support.
Through our integrated hubs, we are providing up to 30 hours of play-based learning for children who will benefit the most – alongside wraparound services tailored to their needs. This will set all kids up for the best start in life.
We are making sure regional communities don’t miss out on our $1.9 billion investment in the early years. Mount Gambier is a growing centre for young families, and this new integrated hub will ensure the local community can access this important service.
Attributable to Melaleuca Park Kindergarten Director, Rebecca Huebner
I’m very excited that Melaleuca Park Kindergarten has been chosen to become an integrated hub and the opportunities it will bring to our cohort, their families and the community.
In a regional area like Mount Gambier, finding the types of support your child needs can be difficult.
To be able to have access to things like allied health specialists all within the one site is just huge for our children and their families.
Attributable to Para Vista Primary School Principal, Anita Becker
This integrated hub is really exciting for our community and will allow us to build on the work we are already doing, whilst bringing it all together to support families in our school, preschool and wider community.
The introduction of Preschool Plus for 3-and-4-year-olds will be enhanced by having a whole new facility. We see this working side by side with the school’s existing community hub, particularly in being able to better cater for the wider multicultural community as well.
Attributable to Aldinga Beach Children’s Centre Director, Fiona Brown
We are thrilled to be chosen to become an integrated hub and will be looking to extend our reach to maximise benefit for many children and families.
Our children will benefit from the Preschool Plus hours, and families from strengthened supports. The early years is so critical, and we all want our children to thrive and learn, and to support parents in feeling confident and empowered.
