- 1,200 Gold Coast families already get free kindy in 2023
- More than 5,700 extra families can get free kindy from 2024
- $12.2 million to extend hall at Pimpama State Secondary College
- New classrooms for Broadbeach SS, Coomera SSS, and Miami SS
- $90m for school infrastructure on Sunshine Coast in 2023/24 alone
Over 5,700 additional Gold Coast families will receive free kindy in 2024 thanks to a historic announcement from the Palaszczuk Government.
Set to save families up to $4,600 a year, a $645.4 million budget boost will make kindy free for every Queensland family – and take the government's total investment in kindy to $2 billion over the next four years.
Education Minister Grace Grace visited Kidi Kingdom Childcare in Pimpama today to hear how families will benefit from the policy, which also includes additional funding for staff attraction and retention, extra investment for kindy kids with disability, and an expansion of the successful Kindy Uplift program.
Schools across the Gold Coast will also benefit from significant infrastructure investment, with $90m in 2023/24 alone to maintain, improve, and upgrade schools right across the region.
While on the Gold Coast, the Minister announced a $12.2 million expansion to the hall at Pimpama State Secondary college, one of 18 halls in this year's budget.
This will join the halls already under construction at Miami State High, Nerang State High, and Palmbeach Currumbin State High.
More than $65 million will also be invested for new classrooms at Broadbeach State School, Coomera State Special School, and Miami State School.
This year's record spend builds on a strong foundation of investment in school infrastructure across the Gold Coast, with four new schools opened since 2015 and nearly $900 million invested in total.
Quotes attributable to Education Minister Grace Grace:
"This record education budget will deliver real cost of living relief for Gold Coast families, with free kindy for all from 2024.
"Our ambitious infrastructure investment on the Gold Coast continues with more classrooms and halls because every student and all school staff deserve to learn and work in outstanding facilities."
Quotes attributable Member for Gaven Minister Meaghan Scanlon:
"The Palaszczuk Government continues to deliver for students and families on the Gold Coast.
"The record infrastructure investment will see new halls and classrooms across the region and is all part of our Big Build: the biggest decade of infrastructure delivery in Queensland's history.
"We are making kindy free for every family in Queensland and we're expanding school breakfast clubs too, because every child deserves the best start in life."
Quotes attributable to Kidi Kingdom Child Care Centre Pimpama Centre Manager Jessica Hines:
"We welcome the announcement of free kindy.
"It will help families facing cost-of-living challenges, and will help remove the cost barrier for parents to enrol their children into an approved kindergarten program.
This will ensure Queensland children are well prepared before they start their journey into primary school."
Quotes attributable to Pimpama State Secondary College Principal Megan Roderick:
"We are so excited the hall at Pimpama State Secondary College will be extended.
"It will enhance the learning and training of students in our Elite Athlete Development program, providing students who are striving to reach elite levels in their chosen sport with exceptional facilities.
"The extension will also accommodate the entire student body, allowing for whole school events which build school culture, community, and connection.
"It will not only benefit those who work and learn at the school, but the wider community as well."
