Vic man remanded over 5yo girl's stabbing

A man has been remanded in custody charged with the attempted murder of a five-year-old girl in regional Victoria.

The girl was stabbed repeatedly outside an apartment block where she lives in the Ballarat suburb of Mitchell Park on Sunday afternoon.

She was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital in a critical condition but her condition improved to stable on Monday.

Ty Ranger, 23, a resident in the apartment complex, was charged with attempted murder, intentionally causing serious injury, false imprisonment, child stealing and assault in relation to the incident.

He appeared in a brief hearing in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday.

Ranger did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to re-appear in the same court on February 11.

The girl's mother says she cannot understand why anyone would hurt her little girl.

"Hi everyone, Madison is doing a bit better," Samantha Hastings wrote on Facebook just before midnight on Sunday.

Another post, on Monday morning, asked: "Why would anyone hurt my baby girl."

Ms Hastings' Facebook page has been flooded with messages from well-wishers.

The apartment complex is a low-cost residential facility owned by Catholic welfare provider Centacare.

"Our first concern is for the welfare of the young child and her family," Centacare's executive director David Beaver said in a statement.

"We will provide them with every support."

Mr Beaver is also worried about other shocked residents in the block of apartments, which are funded under the federal government's National Rental Affordability Scheme.