Early education boost in Bordertown

The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments are partnering to deliver a significantly expanded early childhood education and care centre in Bordertown, helping to support children and their families across the region.

The Carol Murray Children’s Centre will move to a new $11.83 million purpose-built facility and be co-located with the Bordertown Primary School site, providing families with a central drop-off point and more access to early education.

The project is being jointly funded with the Albanese Government investing $6.65 million through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund and the Malinauskas Government contributing $4.39 million. The Carol Murray Children’s Centre is also providing funding.

The upgraded centre will expand to 111 places, up from 72, and continue to offer early learning and preschool programs.

Increased capacity will support the universal rollout of Flying Start three-year-old preschool and create additional places for children under the age of two.

The redeveloped service follows community advocacy for a larger centre, including from the Tatiara Childcare Working Group who identified the growing needs of the region.

The new centre is expected to be open in the second half of 2029. The existing service will continue operating in its current location until the new centre is completed.

It builds on three other early education projects being delivered in regional South Australia under the Building Early Education Fund – at Kadina, Kimba and Quorn.

These projects will add almost 150 early learning places for families on the Copper Coast. All three sites are set to be completed by early 2028.  

The $1 billion Building Early Education Fund provides capital funding to build and expand early learning services in areas of need, including regional communities and outer suburbs, helping families access quality early learning close to home. 
The Building Fund helps deliver more quality centres co-located at schools. This will help families avoid the double drop-off and help children smoothly transition to school.
These investments will support workforce participation, strengthen regional communities and help more children get the best possible start in life.

More information about the Building Early Education Fund is available at: Building Early Education Fund - Department of Education, Australian Government.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Jess Walsh

“Our Building Early Education Fund is delivering more quality early education centres where South Australian families need them most.

“This project will mean more Bordertown families can access early learning close to home and give children a great start in life.

“Co-locating the centre with Bordertown Primary School will also end the double drop-off for many parents and help children get ready to start school.”

Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Lucy Hood

“We are working with the Australian government to increase capacity in areas where families need it most, enabling more parents to access high-quality early learning closer to home.

“The Bordertown community and surrounds rely on the Carol Murray Children’s Centre and we have responded to locals’ calls for additional long day care in the region.

“This significant investment will help accommodate future growth and is an important addition to support the rollout of universal three-year-old preschool now underway across our state.”

Quotes attributable to Carol Murray Children’s Centre Director, Shelley Cameron

“Our service is highly valued and much loved, with many community members having attended themselves as children.

“We are delighted that – thanks to strong community support and advocacy, along with government investment – we will now be able to respond to our community’s growing needs with quality early childhood programs in a purpose-built facility.”