New era for early childhood education in Cohuna
Published on 22 July 2026
A new era for early childhood education and care for Cohuna and district families will begin in 2027.
Following years of advocacy from families and Gannawarra Shire Council, the Early Learning Victoria Cohuna (interim name) centre will open at Cohuna Consolidated School in time for the start of Term 1, 2027, enabling up to 102 children to access long day care, three-year-old kindergarten and Pre-prep programs. It will also offer a sessional kindergarten program.
“Council is excited to see the years of work undertaken by families seeking workable local childcare options come to fruition with the development of the Early Learning Victoria Cohuna,” Mayor Garner Smith said.
“This modern, purpose-built facility located at the Cohuna Consolidated School, is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to have a smooth and supported educational journey now and into the future.
“The introduction of a service the scale of Early Learning Victoria Cohuna means that there will be substantially increased kindergarten capacity within Cohuna, which will ease the pressure on our current childcare programs and provide local options for families.”
Following engagement with families who are currently or will be accessing early childhood education services in the area to determine future demand, Council has resolved to cease operating the Cohuna Kindergarten, with Council’s final day as a kindergarten provider in Cohuna being Friday, 18 December 2026. This decision was made following careful consideration, with Council determining that continuing to operate the existing kindergarten service alongside the new facility would not be sustainable or viable in the long term.
“We understand this news may raise questions for families, and we want to reassure the community that Council are committed to supporting educators, children and families throughout this transition,” Mayor Smith said.
“Throughout the coming months, our priority will be to support a smooth transition for children and families who expressed interest in attending the Cohuna Kindergarten in 2027, whilst supporting our educators, and ensuring continued access to high-quality early childhood education and care services within the Cohuna community.
“We would like to sincerely thank the many educators, families, community members and advocates who have contributed to the success of early childhood education in Cohuna over many years. The development of the new Early Learning Centre is a testament to what can be achieved through strong community advocacy and partnership, creating a lasting benefit for future generations of local children and families.”
Families who have any questions about the future of early childhood education for Cohuna and district are encouraged to contact Council’s Children’s Services team on (03) 5452 1357 or click here(PDF, 152KB) to view the Cohuna Early Childhood Education Changes - Frequently Asked Questions document.