Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (18:03): There were 16 adjournment matters this evening to various ministers, and I will ensure that members receive replies in accordance with the standing orders.

If I can just acquit the question from Dr Bach in respect to free kinder, in doing so I want to acknowledge the incredible work of all of our kindergarten services across the state. Sessional kinder is a really important part of the sector, and we will continue to support it in many different ways. I am extremely proud that our government is investing $14 billion in absolutely transforming early childhood education in our state, and I am also very proud that 97 per cent of our kindergarten programs have taken up the free kinder initiative. This really is about making sure that thousands of Victorian children and their families who may have previously been unable to attend a kinder program because of cost-of-living pressures now can make that choice without worrying about the cost to them.

It does represent a saving of up to $2500 per child, and services right across the state have embraced this key plank in our Best Start, Best Life reforms. It is important to note that the average kindergarten fee is $1900 per child. The government has struck that funding rate of $2500 in our sessional kinders, which basically translates into significantly more funding for many, many more centres across the state. It means that with that additional funding services are able to reinvest into the quality of the service, including of course the professional development and support of our amazing kindergarten teachers and educators. We have also provided additional support for those higher fee charging services to help them mitigate any of the impacts of offering free kinder.

Whilst kindergarten is a non-compulsory system, I think that the free kinder initiative is showing signs of having driven really strong participation and enrolment activity in the first part of this year. Of course we are in the enrolment drive for next year now, so enrolments are open right across the state. Free kinder is really about making kindergarten education as affordable and accessible as possible for as many children as possible, and of course we are seeing now free kindergarten for both three- and four-year-olds. The importance of two years of early childhood education cannot be overstated. All of the research shows us that it really improves developmental outcomes for children and means that they are ready for primary school. I could not be prouder of our free kinder initiative. I think it is something that the kindergarten sector and of course families right across the state have embraced.

Can I just indicate to Ms Bath in relation to her constituent’s issues with the Middle Creek bridge that I am not briefed on this but I am very happy to seek some advice from my department and get some information back to her about what is going on down there and what might be possible to assist her constituent.

The PRESIDENT: The house stands adjourned.

House adjourned 6:08 pm.