Victorian families, such as those in Hume and Whittlesea, will have access to more free kindergarten education next year thanks to a $131 million investment from the Victorian government.
Families will have access to between five and fifteen hours of funded three-year-old kindergarten in 2023, as well as 15 hours of funded four-year-old kindergarten.
The level of funding available to families depends on their household income and will aim to provide quality education for every child regardless of their location throughout the state.
The government is especially encouraging people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, including newly arrived residents and refugees, to ensure their children are enrolled in kindergarten programs.
The latest state budget provided $4 million to support CALD families to enrol their children in kindergarten through outreach services and bilingual workers, as well as extra support for families living in public housing.
Victorian minister for early childhood Ingrid Stitt said the government wanted to help foster every child’s love of learning, social skills and confidence early through funding two years of early learning before school.
“Enrolments for kinder next year are now open, so I’d encourage every Victorian family to find a fantastic local kinder that will deliver the best start for their children.”
