Grants available for Victorian kinder services to operate bush kinder program

Funded Victorian kindergarten services with a current National Quality Standard rating are eligible to apply for a one-off $6,000 grant to help them establish or enhance a bush kinder program in 2024.

The Victorian Government has allocated $3.6 million over four years to help more kindergartens to set up bush kinder programs so that more children can “enjoy the opportunity to have fun, play and learn in our beautiful outdoor settings”.

Research has shown that regular learning through outdoor play helps young children develop across a whole range of areas, including physical and cognitive development and wellbeing, and their ability to assess risk.

When children participate in bush kinders, they have opportunities to be outside, climb trees, explore nature, get dirty and learn through play. 

The grants round open now will be the first of four annual grant rounds. Each year, up to 150 kindergartens will receive grants to help set up a bush kinder at their service.

Applications close Friday 29 September 2023. For more information about bush kinder, refer to the bush kinder website or the Bush Kinder Grants Program.

For further enquiries, contact the Bush Kinder Grants Program team by email: bush.kinder.grants@education.vic.gov.au