05 MayVictorian Budget release
The Victorian Government released its 2022/23 Budget on 3 May.
The Budget includes a continuation for funding to deliver 15 hours of access to four-year-old kindergarten including the Ratio Supplement, Small Rural Kindergarten funding, and to meet demand for the Early Childhood Teacher Supplement and Kindergarten Fee Subsidy.
There is a focus on ensuring vulnerable children can remain engaged in early childhood education with continuation of programs including the Early Childhood LOOKOUT, Access to Early Learning programs and expansion of the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy to all children known to child protection and those from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
Investment to support children with disabilities includes through the Kindergarten Inclusion Support fund and the Building Blocks Inclusion grants program.
Additional funding has been provided to extend outreach support for children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to access and engage in kindergarten.
Further funding has been provided to support Kinder Kits for every child enrolled in funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2023 and 2024 and to continue the Early Childhood Language program throughout 2023.
