Victoria announces 2020 School Readiness Funding allocations to kindergartens

Approximately 800 Victorian kindergartens receiving School Readiness Funding in 2020 have been advised of their allocated amounts to support children to improve their language development and social and emotional wellbeing.

Kindergarten services in 32 local government areas will receive the funding in 2020, including funded kindergarten services run by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Services in Hume, Greater Shepparton, Mitchell, Moira, Moreland, Murrindindi and Strathbogie will receive this funding for the first time.

The $160 million investment in School Readiness Funding will benefit more than 28,000 children through programs and additional resources in 2020. This Australian-first initiative is a permanent part of the kindergarten system that will be available to all Victorian funded kindergarten services by 2021 to address educational disadvantage.

A small number of services will receive more than $200,000 extra per year based on the needs of the children at the service, with others receiving an extra $1,000 per year.

School Readiness Funding funds programs and supports that benefit all children, and builds the knowledge and skills of educators and families in the priority areas of communication (specifically language development), wellbeing, including social and emotional development, and access and inclusion.

For more information about School Readiness Funding, including the menu of evidence-informed programs and supports referred to in the video, visit the Department’s website.