The purpose-built centre, currently under construction at Cohuna Consolidated School on Mead St, is expected to open in early 2027 and will provide long day care and integrated kindergarten for up to 102 children each day.
The project is now in the construction phase after planning and design commenced in late 2024.
Once complete, the centre will feature five purpose-built learning rooms tailored to different age groups.
Two kindergarten rooms will cater for children aged three to six, each holding up to 33 children, while three rooms for children under three will accommodate 12 children each.
Beyond early learning, the centre has been designed with the whole family in mind.
Dedicated consulting rooms will be available for maternal and child health and allied health professionals, and a multipurpose room will be on hand for community meetings and playgroups.
The centre will operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, offering families access to 11 hours of care each day.
Placing the centre within the grounds of Cohuna Consolidated School is expected to make the daily routine much simpler for local families, cutting out the need for separate childcare and school drop-offs.
The shared site is also designed to help young children settle into primary school with greater confidence.
The centre is part of the Victorian Government's Best Start, Best Life reforms, backed by the state's $3.8 billion commitment to early childhood infrastructure — an investment that has been building since the 2015-16 State Budget.
Construction is progressing steadily, with completion still on track for the first quarter of 2027, though this remains subject to change.
When the doors open, the centre is set to make a real difference to early learning opportunities for families in Cohuna and the surrounding communities.
