Funded kindergarten services with a current National Quality Standard rating are eligible to apply for a one-off $6,000 grant to help them establish or enhance a bush kinder program in 2024.
Research shows regular learning through outdoor play helps young children develop across a whole range of areas, including physical and cognitive development and wellbeing, and their ability to assess risk.
Bush Kinder programs provide our children with amazing opportunities to get outdoors, climb trees and get their hands dirty.
The Victorian Government is investing $3.6 million over 4 years to help more kindergartens to set up these programs, so more children can enjoy the opportunity to have fun, play and learn in our beautiful outdoor settings.
The grants round open now will be the first of 4 annual grant rounds. Each year, up to 150 kindergartens will receive grants to help set up a bush kinder at their service.
Check out this Koorie Kids Shine video about bush kinders(opens in a new window) to see how an outdoor learning environment is great for all children.
Applications close Friday 29 September 2023.
Find out more
For more information about Bush Kinder, refer to Bush Kinder(opens in a new window) or the Bush Kinder Grants Program(opens in a new window).
For further enquiries, contact the Bush Kinder Grants Program team by email: bush.kinder.grants@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
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