Victoria will continue to fund the Early Childhood LOOKOUT Program

The Victorian Government’s recent State Budget announced ongoing funding for the Early Childhood LOOKOUT Program, an integral part of LOOKOUT Education Support Centres that are designed to boost the capability of early childhood services, schools, carers, child protection practitioners and out-of-home care services to improve educational outcomes for children and young people living in out-of-home care.  

The funding will establish the EC LOOKOUT program Early Childhood Learning Advisor (ECLA) roles as a permanent feature of the service system. ECLAs facilitate and monitor children in out-of-home care’s participation in two years of high-quality kindergarten, promote Early Start Kindergarten and a supportive transition to school. 

ECLAs can also play an important role in supporting kindergartens in co-ordinating with multiple services and professionals that can often be involved with children in out-of-home care due to the complex and intersecting barriers to education.

ECLAs work with a range of stakeholders to promote inclusive, trauma-informed approaches and cultural safety in kindergarten settings as well as raising awareness of the Early Childhood Agreement for Children in Out-of-Home Care .

LOOKOUT Centres and ECLA staff are located in the Department of Education and Training (DET) regional offices across Victoria.