CENTRAL Victorian families will be able to choose a Catholic kindergarten from 2021.
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The new Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care will be responsible for early learning centres in the Sandhurst Diocese.
Catholic Education Sandhurst director Paul Desmond said the new body was developed after a push from families.
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"We're responding to the request from parents regarding the education and care of their younger children who have siblings already in our schools," Mr Desmond said.
"This has been in the planning pipeline for four years now."
Mr Desmond said the plan was to have one new early education site in the Sandhurst Diocese each year.
There was already the Assisi Kindergarten in Strathfieldsaye, which would come under Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care from 2021.
Mr Desmond said Carla Jeffrey would lead the process as assistant to the director for Early Childhood Education and Care.
"We are really excited about Carla coming to us," he said. "She is going to make a positive difference and support the principals going into this development."
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Ms Jeffrey has worked at the Department of Education and Training, La Trobe University, and the City of Hobsons Bay as the children's services coordinator.
Ms Jeffrey said she would start working with schools in the diocese from January next year.
"There is some interest there already," she said. "It will be about building those relationships and working very closely with them.
"This is going to provide families with more choice in the early education space."
Julie Cobbledick, who chaired the working party responsible for developing the new early education body, said there were exciting times ahead for the region.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for Catholic education and the Diocese of Sandhurst to work in partnership and expand education provision for families in the region," Mrs Cobbledick said.
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