Victorian 2023 budget extends substantial new commitments to ECEC as Best Start, Best Life progresses

The Victorian Government has handed down its 2023/24 Budget in which commitments to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector remain elevated relative to the past as the state’s ambitious free kindergarten and pre-prep roll outs progress. 

 

“I’m pleased to report that Victoria’s ambitious vision for early childhood education and care has driven some exciting outcomes for the sector in the Victorian Budget 2023/24,” Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep said. 

 

The total commitments included in the budget amount to $1.8 billion over five years with the majority, around $1.1 billion, allocated to infrastructure initiatives with a focus on kindergarten and pre-prep. 

 

A further $525.6 million has been provided to support the ongoing delivery of free programs and the progressive transition to pre-prep already in place with some of these funds earmarked for investing in workforce attraction, retention and quality and cultural safety and inclusion projects. 

 

“This budget recognises the critical role of the early childhood sector in shaping the lives of our littlest learners and the remarkable contribution this makes to our state,”  Ms Stitt said, and also “demonstrates our government’s unwavering commitment to working in partnership with the sector to deliver the transformative Best Start, Best Life reforms.”

 

The 2023/24 Victorian Budget contains the following key allocations to ECEC:

 

Building on free 3 and 4 yo kinder and pre-prep transition initiatives – As part of the Victorian Government’s flagship free kindergarten initiatives a further $372.7 million has been allocated to support the ongoing delivery of free kindergarten programs in participating services and an additional $152.9 million to support the progressive transition of four year old kindergarten to Pre-Prep including investing in workforce attraction, retention and quality, and includes funding for Aboriginal controlled organisations and Traditional Owners to work with ECEC services to improve cultural safety and inclusion. Funds are allocated for 2026/27.

 

Supporting inclusion in kindergarten for children with additional needs – Funding of $18.1 million over five years has been provided to strengthen and modernise existing inclusion support for children with disability (including increasing Preschool Field Officer support in growth areas, creating a more consistent assessment approach, and continuing the specialised equipment program) and support the design and piloting of new approaches to support children with a disability, developmental delay and/or additional needs in their kindergarten years.

 

Broadening and refreshing early years services – $47.7 million over five years will be allocated to creating ten new bilingual kindergartens, eight new toy libraries, establishing an extra 150 Bush Kinder programs each year with grants available to purchase new toys and equipment and continue the early childhood language program for over 200 kindergarten services.

 

Upgrading early years infrastructure – Funding amounting to $20.0 million over two years under the Building Blocks program has been provided for grants to local government and other eligible providers to improve and upgrade early childhood infrastructure. 

 

Building out 4 yo kindergarten infrastructure – $912.8 million is provided to continue delivery of new and expanded early learning infrastructure as part of the Best Start, Best Life initiative to progressively transition four year-old kindergarten to Pre-Prep. This initiative will contribute to building new facilities across the state to open in 2026 and 2027, including new early learning facilities on government school sites and low-fee non-government school sites, and expanding existing services. This initiative will also contribute towards building 50 government-owned Early Learning Centres in communities that have the greatest need for more childcare places. Funding is also provided for land acquisition.

 

Building out 3 yo kindergarten infrastructure – $208.4 million is provided to continue delivery of three-year-old kinder, including the infrastructure required to increase capacity. This initiative will contribute to building new facilities on government school sites.

 

To access the Budget in full please see here.