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Early years management

Early Years Management (EYM) organisations are local government or community-based organisations that provide professional leadership and centralised management of kindergarten services.

Overview

Early Years Management (EYM) organisations are local government or community-based organisations that provide professional leadership and centralised management of kindergarten services.

EYM organisations provide service delivery according to their regulatory, policy and funding obligations and are required to:

  • assume all the responsibilities of an approved provider as specified in the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations
  • establish and review effective governance practices that support professional leadership and management systems
  • contribute to policy development, sector planning, policy reform implementation and service design.

Benefits of EYM

The benefits of EYM are:

  • Children benefit from high quality, inclusive services provided by professionals who are well supported to adopt contemporary, evidence-based practices.
  • Parents can focus their involvement on supporting their children's learning free of the compliance, industrial, financial and operational obligations required of approved early childhood service providers.
  • Staff benefit from organisational structures and processes that support them in their day to day work, but also have a view to the future creating career pathways and professional development opportunities that align with their aspirations.

Funding

The 2021-22 State Budget included an additional $31.2 million to support EYM organisations. The current funding rates can be found on Kindergarten Funding Rates.

Become an early years manager

An EYM organisation must:

  • be a local government or community-based, not-for-profit organisation
  • comprise a minimum of three community-based services, provided by incorporated associations run by volunteer Committee of Management, that offer a funded kindergarten program.

If you're considering becoming an early years manager, contact the nearest department regional officeExternal Link .

Documents

EYM Policy Framework (2016) (PDF, 4.16MB)External Link , EYM Policy Framework (2016) (DOCX, 38MB)External Link - sets out the background and context for Early Years Management.

EYM Improvement Framework (2021) (PDF, 2.14MB)External Link , EYM Improvement Framework (2021)(DOCX, 1.4MB)External Link – supports EYM organisations to use data and other information to find ways to continuously improve.

The EYM Improvement Framework replaces the EYM Outcomes and draft Performance Framework (Appendix 1 of the EYM Kindergarten Operating Guidelines).

EYM Kindergarten Operating Guidelines (2016) (PDF, 2.23MB)External Link , EYM Kindergarten Operating Guidelines (2016) (DOCX, 19MB)External Link - provides detailed guidelines for implementing the EYM policy framework, for all EYM partners that deliver or intend to deliver kindergarten programs in Victoria.

EYM Funding Requirements(PDF, 4.16MB)External Link , EYM Funding Requirements (DOCX, 38MB)External Link - baseline requirements that EYM organisations are required to comply with as part of their Service Agreement with the department.

EYM Fact Sheet - Information for Committees of Management (2016) (PDF, 163.16KB)External Link , EYM Fact Sheet - Information for Committees of Management (2016) (DOCX, 1.72MB)External Link - this fact sheet contains general information about EYM for parent run Committees of Management who currently operate stand–alone kindergartens and may be considering an EYM partnership.

Reviewed 05 September 2023

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