Supporting kindergarten attendance

24 February 2009

Recognising the importance of kindergarten, the Victorian Government has raised the fee subsidy for funded kindergarten programs.

Research shows children who attend kindergarten perform better at school. Quality kindergarten programs improve future learning, health and behaviour, with positive impacts extending into adult life. The Kindergarten Fee Subsidy ensures as many Victorian children as possible are able to benefit from this important step in their education and development.

All children who hold a concession card can now access a 10-hour kindergarten program at no cost. Children from refugee backgrounds with humanitarian visas and asylum seekers on bridging visas are also eligible for the subsidy.

Aboriginal families with a concession card now have access to a fee subsidy for their three year old children to attend kindergarten as well as the existing subsidy for four year olds. This means eligible children will be able to attend two years of a funded kindergarten program before they start school.

The Kindergarten Fee Subsidy is indexed yearly and in 2009 it has risen to $751.20.

For more information on the subsidy, see: Kindergarten Funding Criteria