The Victorian Government is stepping up its commitment to regional early learning centres with a significant increase in funding, aiming to ensure the sustainability of small local kindergartens and provide vital support to families.
Victorian Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn, has announced a boost to the annual baseline funding for rural sessional kindergarten services. For the first time, this includes thousands of dollars in Free Kinder funding. This initiative will benefit more than 60 regional kindergartens, delivering almost $10 million in total. This funding is based on projected enrolments for 2025 and aims to offer high-quality education close to home.
From 1 January, eligible services will receive increased funding equivalent to 18 enrolments, even if they have fewer children. Providers will see the first payment increase automatically in Term 2, based on their reported enrolments for the year. This support means that even the smallest kindergartens in Victoria will receive over $132,000, helping them continue to provide the best educational start for young children.
Eligibility criteria stipulate that kindergartens must be the sole provider in their regional town or area and have fewer than 18 enrolments. This funding approach simplifies the process for service providers, which often face higher operational costs due to their remote locations.
The government’s Free Kinder program is set to save families up to $2,627 per child at sessional kindergartens and up to $2,101 per child at long daycare centres. This initiative is part of a broader investment strategy, with the state government allocating billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens across Victoria. This will support the delivery of 15 hours of three-year-old kindergarten each week by 2029 and up to 30 hours of pre-prep each week by 2036.
Through the “Best Start, Best Life” reforms, the Victorian Government is transforming early childhood education. These reforms aim to help children thrive, reduce financial burdens on families, and support parents and carers in returning to work or study. Minister Blandthorn emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “We’re making sure that no small kinder is left behind, giving our little learners the best start in life. Regional kindergartens play a pivotal role in their communities, and we’re proud to support these services with more funding to help providers and local families.”
Author: KinderGarten
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