Children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are finding it easier to enrol in Victorian kindergartens through the CALD Outreach Initiative.
The CALD Outreach Initiative funds 22 local councils to employ CALD outreach workers to help children from CALD backgrounds register, enrol and attend kindergarten.
Through the initiative, CALD outreach workers:
- support successful registration and enrolment of CALD children in kindergarten
- help to maximise CALD children’s attendance at kindergarten
- engage CALD children and their families in other early childhood supports in their local area, such as community playgroups and maternal and child health services
- support CALD children to transition from kindergarten to school.
Program success
In 2023, the initiative directly supported or engaged children from 71 countries and 100 language groups to engage in kindergarten and other early childhood services and/or transition to school.
Reaching the community
CALD outreach workers also organised and attended a range of activities to promote early childhood education to CALD families.
They visited playgroups, libraries, community hubs, schools and immunisation sessions, while also organising information sessions with council child and families' teams and local community organisations.
Boomerang throwing and emu visiting: a day in the life of a CALD outreach worker
Last year, the CALD outreach workers for the City of Greater Geelong welcomed families of Karen, Karenni, Persian and Afghani background to the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Geelong.
These newly arrived families, many with recent refugee experiences, were not sure what to expect as they walked into the centre.
After a smoking ceremony that welcomed everyone to Wadawurrung country, CALD outreach workers were able to meet and start to get to know these families with young children not yet enrolled in early years services.
As well as taking part in an Aboriginal art activity, learning how to throw a boomerang, visiting the resident emus and tasting damper, families were also given information about services available to them, with interpreters on hand to assist.
The families had some great questions, particularly around parenting in Australia and how they could enrol their children in kinder programs, and were keen to keep meeting regularly with the CALD outreach workers.
The intention of the event, run as part of a collaboration with the City of Greater Geelong’s Family Services Development team, was for families to feel welcome, connected to the region and to interact with the staff and workers who will be able to assist them with their children’s education journey over the coming years.
As of 2024, the CALD outreach workers continue to support CALD communities in Geelong to register and enrol in kindergarten.
Find out more
For more information, refer to Supporting CALD families to engage in kindergarten.
For further enquiries, contact the Early Years Management and Partnerships unit by email: early.years.cald.programs@education.vic.gov.au
Updated