Victoria’s Labor Government is boosting funding for early learning facilities this year, with an aim to secure the long-term future of small regional kindergartens.
The state’s Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn yesterday announced an increase to the annual baseline funding for rural sessional kindergarten services by including thousands of dollars in free kinder funding for the first time.
Based on expected enrolment numbers for 2025, more than 60 regional kindergartens will receive increased funding – delivering almost $10 million in total for these services to help improve access to quality education close to home.
Eligible services will be funded the increased baseline equivalent to 18 enrolments, even if they have fewer children, from 1 January. Service providers will receive the first increased payment in term two automatically, based on their reported enrolments for the year.
This means Victoria’s smallest kindergartens will receive more than $132,000 to help them continue to provide the best start to our smallest Victorians. To be eligible, kindergartens must be the only kinder provider in their regional town or local area and have fewer than 18 enrolments. The approach simplifies kindergarten funding for service providers which can have higher operating costs because of their regional location.
“Families in small towns deserve certainty when it comes to their children’s education – we’re making sure that no small kinder is left behind, giving our little learners the best start in life,” says Blandthorn.
“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.”
