Children start learning from the moment they’re born, and what they learn and experience in their first 5 years can shape the rest of their lives.
The growing evidence about the importance of the early years shows how critical it is we get it right. Parents and early childhood education professionals have long understood that the kindergarten years are a great opportunity for high quality, affordable and accessible early learning to set children up to live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. And families have told us that better access to childcare will support more parents, particularly women, to make choices based on what works for their children and families rather than being limited by the options available to them.
A whole of government focus on child development and wellbeing is essential to support children and families. It’s one of the Victorian Government’s major policy priorities. Providing early childhood education is not only one of the most powerful things we can do for Victorian kids - it also benefits families, communities, and the economy.
That’s why the Victorian Government is investing $14 billion in the Best Start, Best Life reforms over the next decade, in what will be the greatest transformation of early childhood education in a generation.
We’ve been listening to families, our workforce, services, local governments, and peak bodies as we embark on this reform.
The launch of Free Kinder this year is already supporting up to 140,000 children and families. Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is now available for up to 15 hours across the state, giving Victorian children access to two years of kindergarten before school. This rollout will continue between now and 2029, when all Three-Year-Old Kindergarten programs will reach 15 hours.
From 2025, Pre-Prep starts to roll out in stages, and by 2032 will provide 4-year-olds across Victoria with 30 hours of quality, play-based learning. The first of the 50 government-operated childcare centres will also open in 2025 in areas with the greatest need.
The difference these reforms will make to Victoria is profound. Our children and families will be better off, and our state will be stronger and fairer.
We know that what we are doing here in Victoria is being considered closely across the nation. Our hope is that we can reach a new national consensus on the importance of early learning, to benefit Australian kids.
Hon Jacinta Allan MP
Premier of Victoria
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