General News
13 March, 2026
More kinder options for Clunes
A brand-new Early Learning Centre in Clunes has opened providing more families access to a high-quality education program close to home.
The State Government is giving more children the best start in life, with a brand-new Early Learning Centre in Clunes now open, providing more local families access to a high-quality education program close to home.
The new kindergarten, located next to Clunes Primary School features outdoor play areas, a maternal and child health consulting room, and a carpark. It also features a community room for meetings and playgroup.
The centre provides long day care/ childcare with 102 places for children aged 0-6, integrated kinder (kinder plus long day care), offering flexible drop-off and pick-up within an 11-hour day and sessional kinder: only attending kinder hours and days, school terms only.
Last Friday, Member for Ripon Martha Haylett officially opened the new ‘Early Learning Victoria Wirmal’ facility in Clunes.
The opening of the facility follows years of advocacy from families in the fast growing community needing more local options to send their children to kinder or childcare.
“So many local families wanted childcare options close to home in Clunes and I am so proud to have delivered that for them. This new early learning centre is one of the best I've ever seen and will be a game changer for our community,” she said.
Positioning kindergartens on or close to schools supports children to get the most out of their early learning and makes drop-off more convenient for busy parents and carers.
“Having the centre right next to Clunes Primary School will help our littlest locals transition to school and will avoid that dreaded double drop-off for families,” Ms Haylett said.
This centre is one of 50 early learning centres that will share in approximately $14 billion as part of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reform.
Through their $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the State Government is transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents and carers to return to work or study if they choose.