Dear colleagues
Today, Wednesday 6 September 2023, is National Early Childhood Educators’ Day(opens in a new window), a wonderful opportunity for us in Victoria to celebrate the work of our state’s early childhood educators. The day is a reminder to everyone in our community of the vital role educators play in helping young children thrive. And for that skilled work and your professionalism, we say thank you.
It’s timely that today we also unveil the finalists for the 2023 Victorian Early Years Awards (VEYA)(opens in a new window), which includes the new category of ‘Educator of the year’.
It’s been great to see Early Childhood Educators’ Day celebrations grow over the years, as the sector and community more broadly continue to recognise the enormous importance of their work. This is an opportunity not only to acknowledge the myriad positive contributions educators make to the lives of young children and their families, but also shine a light on the long-term benefits of early learning.
If you haven’t already, please find communications materials(opens in a new window) to celebrate Early Childhood Educators’ Day for use on your own channels.
Best Start, Best Life implementation
As Victorian families look to enrol in kindergarten programs and receive offers of places for 2024, there’s an opportunity to reflect on Free Kinder and the Best Start, Best Life reforms.
There is some very positive news for us to be sharing – there is currently more public kinder funding than ever to support service delivery and affordability, the workforce, and infrastructure.
Below are some facts that may help with conversations you might be having with your teams and communities:
Free Kinder and other funding
- Free Kinder is benefiting up to 140,000 children and their families in 2023 and has been taken up by 97% of services.
- Free Kinder means more funding for almost all participating services. The Free Kinder rate of $2,500 in 2023 gives a sessional service about 30 to 40% more in funding compared to average parent fees in 2022.
- Free Kinder is, of course, on top of all existing funding streams, including substantial per capita funding, loadings and supplements, as well as School Readiness Funding, other supports for access and inclusion, and additional funding for local government and community-based early years managers.
Kindergarten capacity and existing services
- There are enough kindergarten places to meet the current demand across the state, with hundreds more new services and expansions coming over future years, supported by $2.7 billion in new Best Start, Best Life infrastructure investment.
- Since 2019, there has been big growth in kinder services – 400 new services have opened, and we have funded another 50 services to expand.
- Existing kindergarten services across the state will still be needed, alongside many new services. This includes the many services owned by local government.
- Single room services can deliver both Three-Year-Old Kinder and Pre-Prep and will continue to be an important part of the kinder system. The department will work with these services on program options to meet community needs.
- More services will open across the state to meet future demand for Pre-Prep, so that over time existing services can generally enrol fewer children for more funded hours.
Infrastructure and workforce support
- There is unprecedented state funding for infrastructure and workforce.
- In terms of attracting and retaining and retain teachers and educators, the Victorian Government is leading the nation by investing almost $370m. Since 2019, the number of kinder teachers and educators delivering funded kinder programs has increased by more than 50%, and more than 3,500 early childhood teaching scholarships have been awarded.
- The increased infrastructure funding includes:
- infrastructure grants increased by 60% to 166% – for example, 2-room kinder funding has increased from $1.5 million to $4 million
- modular kinders(opens in a new window) are now fully funded
- since 2019, more than $70 million has been allocated to upgrade existing kinder infrastructure, with grants increasing by around 50%
- local government is receiving $5.2 million to plan for new infrastructure.
We will continue to use Early Childhood Update as a way to keep you up to date with funding and grant opportunities.
Lastly, I’d like to recognise South Australia has released its final report(opens in a new window) from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. The report contains 43 recommendations and details an ambitious vision for the future of early childhood education and care in South Australia. The report’s recommendations – which include the introduction of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten for all children, and a focus on equity, quality and the workforce – reinforce the work we already have well underway.
I look forward to our continued work with other states and territories as they look ahead to their own reforms supporting children and families.
Kim Little
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated