Recent Stories
Free kindergarten for Koorie kids
THREE-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are the first in Victoria to benefit from at least 10 hours a week of free kindergarten under a Brumby Government initiative, officially launched last week.
The Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand said the current kindergarten fee subsidy of $730 will be extended to three-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children whose parents hold an appropriate concession card.
Ms Morand was visiting Early Learning @ Rosewall in Geelong attended by five of the more than 80 three-year-old children state-wide who are currently benefiting from this initiative.
“Accessing a good quality kindergarten program is a vital part of a child’s learning, with research indicating long term benefits for children who attend kindergarten,’’ Ms Morand said.
“The Brumby Government believes that two years of kindergarten would be particularly beneficial for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to gain the maximum advantage of an early learning program before school.”
Ms Morand said this is the first year of a four-year $2.7 million initiative, funded in last year’s State Budget, which will eventually see more than 400 eligible three-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enjoying free kindergarten.
Meredith Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Kindergarten Parents Victoria (KPV) also welcomed the plan.
Responding to the State Budget Ms Carter said, “KPV is very pleased to see the Government delivering on its early childhood election commitments and going even further, particularly for vulnerable children.
“KPV believes quality preschool is a public good but vulnerable children are the ones who will benefit most.
“The kindergarten funding decisions made in the 2007-08 State Government budget will have a direct impact on the more than 200,000 children, their parents, teachers and local communities, who all play a substantial role in sustaining Victoria’s community-managed kindergarten programs.”
The current subsidy of $730 a year is currently available to more than 16,500 eligible Victorian low-income families of four-year-old children, including those on concession cards and refugees and asylum seekers.
“By extending the subsidy, the Brumby Government is making kindergarten affordable and accessible,” Ms Morand said.
Ms Morand praised the recently re-opened Early Learning @ Rosewall for its commitment to providing programs that are stimulating, enjoyable and culturally inclusive for all children.
This initiative is a key element of Victoria’s Plan to Improve Outcomes in Early Childhood, the Brumby Government’s 10-year vision for driving reform in the early childhood sector.