DESIGNS for a new $14.5 million facility that will house educational and support facilities for pregnant and parenting students and their children were launched today. 

ACT Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch says the facility, CCCares, based at Canberra College, Phillip, will accommodate 80 students, 80 children and 12 teaching and ancillary staff with an allowance for 15 additional visiting adults.

While physically independent of the existing College buildings, the facility will be integrated with the existing College main and technology facilities, and the recently completed Canberra College Performance Arts Centre.

Ms Burch says the new complex will include learning spaces for students, such as vocational learning spaces, a hospitality studio and an arts studio, an adjunct childcare centre for children and a range of parental and medical services.

“The CCCares program has offered education and support services for pregnant teenagers and young parents in the ACT since 2005, and I look forward to delivering this wonderful new facility for this program that has cared for so many young parents in the ACT in the last four years,” Ms Burch said.

The program is currently delivered at the former Canberra College site in Stirling but will join the main site in Phillip in 2015.