BRIMBANK children from low-income families will be able to attend at least 10 hours a week of kindergarten for free, thanks to a $29 million state-wide commitment from the State Government.
The Minister for Children, Lisa Neville, said 17,000 four-year-olds would benefit from a 1 July increase in the annual kindergarten fee subsidy from $330 to $730, making kindergarten effectively free for families with Health Care Cards. In addition to this increase, from 1 January, 2008, a new fee policy will mean that families with Health Care Cards will not pay anything for a 10-hours-per-week program, even if their kindergarten charges more than $730 per year.
Where there is excess subsidy generated, the kindergarten will be required to use this surplus to improve the quality of the kindergarten service for all children attending.
This initiative is a key part of Victoria’s Plan to Improve Outcomes in Early Childhood, the Bracks Government’s 10-year vision for driving reform in the early childhood sector.
Further information on the fee subsidy is available from the Office for Children on 1300 731 947.
