The nine new preschools being delivered by the Minns Labor Government will provide places for up to 800 children per week, offering high-quality early learning to support families and give local children the best start to their education.
The public preschools will be fee-free, providing cost-of-living relief for local families.
This milestone marks a new step in a historic building boom, with 100 new public preschools set to open across New South Wales by early 2027, including 49 in regional areas.
As part of the biggest expansion of public preschools in NSW history, the first new public preschool opened at Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool in October 2024. A contract was also recently awarded to build 40 public preschools co-located with existing public schools across Western Sydney.
The latest tranche of preschools for the Illawarra will be built at Barrack Heights, Berkeley West, Bomaderry, Greenwell Point, Hayes Park, Lake Heights, Lake Illawarra South, Sanctuary Point and Cringila public schools.
Construction is set to begin this year on most of the nine preschools, and the community will be kept updated on progress, including site locations, construction and delivery timelines for each project.
By delivering 100 new public preschools by 2027, the Minns Labor Government will create places in high quality early education for up to an additional 9,000 children for the year before they begin their schooling.
The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding public education with a record $8.9 billion funding in the 2024-25 Budget for new and upgraded public schools and public preschools.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"This investment is part of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to rebuilding public education and ensuring local families have access to high-quality early education close to home.
"I'm pleased to announce that the contracts have now been awarded, and construction will soon begin on our new public preschools in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
"This commitment shows the Minns Labor Government is serious about providing our youngest learners the best start in life, after the former Liberal National government failed to build a single public preschool in 12 years."
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:
"The first 2000 days of a child's life are a critically important period in their learning and development, and the development of social, emotional and cognitive skills in preschool is crucial to this.
"A lot of people are doing it tough at the moment, and our government's investment in fee-free public preschools will make the world of difference to a lot of families on the South Coast."
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:
"This investment will be life changing for so many children in Wollongong and the broader Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.
"These new public preschools will give hundreds of local children now and long into the future the best possible start to their education while providing much-needed cost-of-living relief for families."
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said:
"It is wonderful that these new preschools are being built in fast-growing areas where local families need them most.
"These fee-free public preschools will make a huge difference for young families right across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven."
Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:
"This is a huge win for families across the Shoalhaven. By delivering these new public preschools, we're giving local children the best start in life while easing the financial burden on parents.
"For too long, families have struggled to find accessible and affordable early childhood education. This investment will change that, ensuring every child - no matter their background - has the opportunity to thrive.
"I look forward to seeing construction begin next year and keeping our community updated as we deliver these much-needed preschools for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven."
Labor spokesperson for Kiama Sarah Kaine MLC said:
"I am pleased that the contract for the construction of the Bomaderry public preschool has been awarded. This public preschools will provide long term benefits for children and families in the Kiama community."
