The Victorian Government is delivering more funding for regional early learning centres in an effort to secure the future of small local kindergartens and support families.
Victorian Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn, 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 and making sure Victorians get the best education, close to home.
Eligible services will be funded by 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 2 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 the 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.
The government’s Free Kinder program is expected to save families up to $2,627 per child at sessional kindergartens and up to $2,101 per child at long daycare centres.
The State Government is investing billions to build and expand hundreds of kindergartens across the state, supporting the delivery of 15 hours of three-year-old kindergarten each week by 2029 and up to 30 hours of pre-prep each week by 2036.
Through its Best Start, Best Life reforms, the State Government is transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money, and support parents and carers to return to work or study.
Minister Blandthorn said that 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,” Minister Blandthorn said.
“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.”
