Early childhood education programs supporting Aboriginal children

Koorie Kids Shine

Watch our Why Koorie Kids Shine video to learn more about Koorie Kids Shine, Early Start Kindergarten and the value of kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Koorie Kids Shine is a program that promotes the value of kindergarten to Aboriginal parents and the community. Aboriginal children aged three and four are eligible for 15 hours of free kindergarten each week. To be eligible, a child must turn three or four years old by 30 April in the year they go to kindergarten.

Help us spread the word about Koorie Kids Shine by sharing these social media posts, materials and videos.

To order Koorie Kids Shine print material free of charge, please sign up and/or login to the Victorian Kindergarten Resources website, and select the Koorie Kids Shine option. Anyone can view and order Koorie Kids Shine print material.

Download and print your posters, brochures and postcards:

• Koorie Kids Shine Poster (PDF, 3MB)
• Koorie Kids Shine Brochure (PDF, 1MB)
• Koorie Kids Shine Postcard (PDF, 1MB)

Download the Communications kit (DOCX, 2MB) which has social media and newsletter copy

Download social media tiles for use on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram:

• Social media tile v1 (PNG, 674KB)
• Social media tile v2 (PNG, 583KB)
• Social media tile v3 (PNG, 689KB)
• Social media tile v4 (PNG, 669KB)

Download or link to our videos:

• Koorie Kids - A Day in the Life
• Koorie Kids - Best Practice
• Koorie Kids Shine - Bush Kinder

BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators

There are nine Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) funded by us to deliver evidence-based parenting support through the BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators (KFFE) initiative.

KFFE supports Koorie families to provide a strong foundation for their children's early learning and development through high-quality, culturally safe, evidence-based parenting support (pre-birth to school age, including the transition to school).

ACCOs in identified areas deliver KFFE by employing and supporting Koorie educators to work with parents/carers to build the capacity of Koorie families to support their children's early learning and development.

KFFE incorporates the Koorie In-Home Support/Home Based Learning initiative, whose funding was integrated with KFFE under a common set of guidelines and the language name BALERT GERRBIK in 2019. BALERT GERRBIK means 'my strong family/kin' and is from the Taungurong language.

KFFE funding is delivered across Victoria, in the following locations:

• Ballarat
• Bendigo
• Latrobe
• Wodonga
• Northern Metro
• Swan Hill
• Mildura
• East Gippsland
• Geelong
• Shepparton

Guidelines for BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators is available from our Koorie Outcomes Division. To request a copy, please email: marrung@education.vic.gov.au.

Childcare and Kindergarten

Find out more about childcare and preschool services for Koorie children and their families that are operated by and for the Aboriginal community.

Best Start

Best Start is an early years initiative to support families and caregivers to provide the best possible environment, experiences and care for children from birth to age eight. The program focuses on children experiencing vulnerability and all Aboriginal children.

Find Best Start policy, guidelines and partnership agreement templates for early childhood professionals.

Contact us

For more information about early childhood services for Koorie families (including kindergarten programs):

• contact your local council
• call the Koorie education coordinator at your regional office.