Educators warn Victoria’s $14 billion kindergarten plan may miss community needs
A coalition of sessional early-education providers says the state’s new 15-hour free kindergarten scheme will not suit many community kindergartens without extra funding and consultation.
The Metropolitan Melbourne Community Kinder Network, a body of at least 25 sessional community kindergartens, warns that Victoria’s $14 billion early-learning program - promising 15 free hours for three-year-olds and up to 30 for four-year-olds by 2029 - will not fit the realities of many small, not-for-profit centres. Leaders such as Amy Merrick and Ella Slattery say single-room services lack the capacity to expand without substantial facility upgrades and a full-time operations manager.
They cite the University of Melbourne’s EDGE study, which found children receiving two years of funded kindergarten and 15 hours weekly make the greatest language and cognitive gains. Critics argue that imposing a minimum of 30 hours would turn qualified teachers into carers and eliminate parental choice for shorter programmes. The Department of Education acknowledges the importance of community kindergartens and pledges to collaborate with providers, while the 2026-27 budget allocates $548.3 million for early-childhood initiatives. Independent groups such as The Front Project and Early Childhood Australia echo the call for needs-based funding to ensure quality and equity.
Why it matters
The story highlights how a major education funding reform could strain community kindergartens and affect early learning access.
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