Liam McNally
A Melton childcare service has said the state governments introduction of free kinder has been “amazing” for their centre, increasing enrolments by 50 per cent and allowing them to hire educators at above the recommended ratio.
More than 2,750 early childhood services across the state are offering free kinder for Victoria’s three and four-year-olds in 2023 as a part of the state government’s Best Start, Best Life reform.
Ninety-seven per cent of Victoria’s kindergarten providers have opted-in to free kinder, including sessional kinder and long day-care centres, with 100 percent of kinder services in 44 local government areas opting-in to the state government’s free kinder program.
Under the $270 million initiative, children enrolled in three-year-old kindergarten will receive between five and 15 hours of funded learning each week, and those in four-year-old kindergarten will receive 15 hours per week.
The government promises free kinder will save families up to $2,500 in fees per child each year and give more than 28,000 Victorians greater flexibility to return to work if they choose.
Participating kindergarten programs will receive funding directly from the state government.
Melton’s Early Learning Childcare and Kindergarten communications officer Rohan Jarrah said the program has been “amazing”.
He said free kinder has increased sign-up to their kinder program by around 50 per cent, which has allowed them to hire more educators.
“Everyone’s really happy with it,” he said.
“We’ve been able to introduce above-ratio educators for three to four hours per day in the kinder program, and that’s helped us better design our program around children who need inclusion support.”
The Best Start, Best Life reform aims to deliver free kindergarten for three and four-year-olds, create 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres and establish pre-prep, an extra year of play-based learning.
All children enrolled in funded three-year-old kindergarten will receive a free Kinder Kit full containing educational toys, books and resources.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt said that for young families Free Kinder means “more choice, more flexibility, and more money in their pockets”.
“With this reform we’re making sure every child gets the early education they need to thrive,” she said.
“Free Kinder doesn’t just give our littlest Victorians the best start in life, it also gives parents, particularly mothers, the freedom to go back to work if and when they choose.”
