This year, we reached a huge milestone for our youngest Victorians.
Children across the state gained access to at least five hours of funded three-year-old kindergarten each week, scaling up to 15 hours by 2029.
That $5 billion investment over the decade is helping set our kids up for brighter futures and better outcomes. And around a quarter of families are supported to access kinder at low or no cost.
This Budget builds on that investment, with $15 million to deliver Kinder Kits to kids starting three-year-old kinder in 2023 and 2024. This box of books and other educational items like locally-made puppets and games, will ensure their learning can continue when they’re at home.
This Budget also invests $131 million to continue four-year-old kindergarten services, including important support for rural and small services, and continued help for disadvantaged children to access kindergarten.
Other investments in early childhood in this Budget include:
- $19 million for the LOOKOUT program, which supports children in out-of-home care to access kindergarten and transition to school, and to support vulnerable children and their families with an experienced and qualified facilitator through the Access to Early Learning program
- $17 million to assist children with significant disability or complex needs to participate in kindergarten through the Kindergarten Inclusion Support program
- $12 million to make kindergarten facilities and activities more accessible for children with disability, including funding new ramps and sensory equipment
- $5.5 million to continue the Early Childhood Language Program to deliver learning in another language in kindergartens, along with further professional support and training for teachers
- $4 million to provide targeted outreach support for children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, so that they aren’t held back from learning and families are fully supported and included in their child’s development
- $2.2 million to provide free or low-cost kindergarten for vulnerable children, including children holding a humanitarian or refugee visa.
Supporting students where they need it most
The Victorian Government is investing in Victorian kids and ensuring that regardless of the barriers they face, every child can access the education they need and deserve.
More kids at risk of disengaging with school and support services will be identified and supported with a $37 million boost to the Navigator Program. This includes a pilot to extend the program, which will lower the age of eligibility to young people aged 10 to 11 years.
And a $21 million investment will continue to deliver the Active Schools program, providing advice and resources to ensure that Victorian students have the skills, confidence, and motivation to be active for life.
Media release
Reviewed 03 May 2022