Free kinder is here

By Lachlan Ellis

The State Government is helping up to 140,000 children and families access free kinder services, in what early childhood staff are calling “once in a lifetime reform”.

Ninety-seven per cent of Victoria’s kindergarten providers have opted in to the State Government’s Free Kinder program, which will save families up to $2,500 in fees per child per year, giving more than 28,000 Victorians – most of whom are women – greater flexibility to return to work if they choose.

Participating kindergarten programs will receive funding directly from the State Government, so families are not out-of-pocket and don’t have to claim the savings back.

Jo Geurts is CEO of the Eureka Community Kindergarten Association (ECKA), which oversees several kindergartens including Ballan Kindergarten.

She said the Free Kinder program would be a game changer for local families and their children, especially given current cost of living pressures.

“It’s a fantastic initiative by the State Government to support families, especially at this time when many are struggling with the cost of living. It’s going to make a big difference, and really help people in the Ballan community who access our kindergarten,” Ms Geurts told the Moorabool News.

“It will be extremely beneficial. We know that early education of course has a profound impact on a child’s development. At Ballan this year we’re offering 10 hours of free kindergarten per week to the 3-year-olds in the community, and 15 hours to 4-year-olds.

“This program will give many more families the opportunity [to send their child to kindergarten], including those who may have thought ‘well we won’t do kindergarten because we don’t have that $2,500 this year to pay for that’. This really enables all families in the Ballan area to consider sending their child to kindergarten.”

The Free Kinder program is a $270 million initiative which will provide 5 to 15 hours of funded learning each week for 3-year-olds, and 15 hours per week for 4-year-olds, at participating kindergartens.

The program is part of the State Government’s ‘Best Start, Best Life’ reform, which also plans to establish 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres, and establish Pre-Prep, an extra year of play-based learning that will also save families money and help more women back into work.

Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Ingrid Stitt, said the program 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,” Ms Stitt 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.”

The Free Kinder program kicked off on Tuesday 31 January.