General News
21 August, 2026
Boost for families
A NEW purpose-built early learning centre will open at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus in 2028.
Speaking at the official announcement on-site earlier this week, Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora said the new centre would help fill a void for local families in need of childcare, along with those wanting three and four year-old kinder.
And in a first for the region, the centre will provide early childhood education and tertiary learning under the one roof.
The centre (the result of a partnership between the state government, Deakin University, South West TAFE and Warrnambool City Council) will train the region’s future early educators, supporting students in both the TAFE Diploma and new Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
The new facility will include a training and observation room where students will have the opportunity to learn from experienced educators and observe high-quality practice in action.
With 130 places for local children, the centre will provide long day care and three and four year-old kinder programs – and will have a dedicated space for child, family and community services.
“For many years, families in the southwest have been calling for more early education and care places,” Ms Ermacora said.
“With this investment, we’re also delivering a real boost for the region’s early childhood workforce and I can’t wait to see it in action when the doors open in 2028.”
According to Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn, the centre puts students on campus learning alongside experienced educators.
“More local children will have access to quality early education, with more time to learn through play before school,” she said.
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain welcomed this week’s announcement saying it was great news for Warrnambool families and children.
“This new centre at the Deakin campus will help cater to the increasing demand in our growing city,” he said.
“It also underscores the need for an early years centre of excellence to help bolster the growing need for more qualified early years educators.”
According to council’s director of city wellbeing, Brooke Love, the new centre at Deakin will replace council’s 35-place Sherwood Park Early Learning Centre.
“We know the new early years centre is great for Warrnambool yet it’s also a little bitter-sweet for our early years community because of the connection and relationships that have been built up over the years at the Sherwood Park site,” Ms Love said.
“Council needs more early years educators across our services and it’s our intention to retain all of the expertise and experience of our Sherwood Park team.
“We will enter into discussions about how we transition our Sherwood Park staff into our other 11 kinders and early learning centres.”
Ms Love said that, at this stage, council understands the state government will open the new Deakin facility for the start of 2028, which allows time for a transition that works for both Sherwood Park staff and council.
“Council currently supports a number of trainees within our facilities to achieve their qualifications and we also support staff who are upskilling to higher qualifications,” she said.
As with private providers, council has also experienced workforce shortages and therefore welcomes the opportunity to support students with further early years studies.
“We want these staff to continue with us and we recognise we’re going to need more kindergarten teachers, diploma educators and Cert III educators for our kindergartens and early learning services.”
