09 MayECEC in the 2024/25 Victorian Budget
Tuesday’s delivery of the 2024/25 Victorian budget indicated how funding for the ECEC sector would be allocated for the next 12 months.
The main takeaway from the budget was a change to the expected rollout date of the Best Start, Best Life reforms. Originally expected to be fully rolled out by 2032, the rollout will now be completed by 2036. The Treasurer attributed this more gradual rollout to the workforce needing time to build capacity.
Approved service providers, CLICK HERE to track your service’s revised rollout date, and the below image (source: The Department of Education) as an indication of the rollout schedule:
Helping families is the focus of this year’s budget. In ECEC, this includes:
- $129 million allocated to play-based learning over two years
- $19 million invested in the Building Blocks Improvement and Inclusion grants over three years
- $9.4 million allocated to engaging and supporting children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
- $2.9 million to support migrant non-permanent resident children in better accessing early learning programs through intervention services
- $2.8 million allocated for interpreting and translation services in early childhood settings
- $0.4 million for Respectful Relationships professional learning for educators.
This is positive news, especially for our members who identify access to education for disadvantaged or vulnerable children as a point of concern.
We at ELAA strive to ensure all our members are heard and supported with the resources and funding they need to thrive. Our vision is excellence and equity in ECEC, and we believe that the workforce’s direct link to quality is critical in raising developmental outcomes for all children in the early years. We will continue working with the Department and other stakeholders to strengthen the ECEC workforce and ensure members are supported in implementing free kindergarten over the next 12 years.
