Prep bags

A bag of goodies for every Prep student

Each Prep student attending a Victorian government school in 2025 will receive a Prep bag to celebrate this milestone in their education journey.

The bags are filled with engaging learning items and information for parents and carers to help families have a great start to the year.

This year’s theme, ‘Ready, Set, Prep!’, acknowledges students’ readiness to transition from kindergarten to school and aims to add to the excitement of their first days of Prep.

What’s in the Prep bag?

To help build literacy skills and encourage a life-long love of reading from an early age, Prep students will receive 5 specially chosen books. The books are:

• A Crocodile in the Family - written by Kitty Black and illustrated by Daron Parton
• Walk of the Whales - written and illustrated by Nick Bland
• Bernie Thinks in Boxes - written by Jess Horn and illustrated by Zoe Bennett
• Koala Ark - written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
• No Way Yirrikipayi! - by children from Milikapiti School, Melville Island, with Alison Lester

To support Prep students who are blind, the Statewide Vision Resource Centre has also produced the books in braille with tactile illustrations.

Other goodies in the bag include:

Learning resources

• A jigsaw puzzle featuring a world map and children from across the globe wearing traditional clothing, introducing our youngest learners to global learning and engagement. The puzzle also includes conversation starters for parents to support discussions with their child about multicultural Victoria.
• An Inclusive Education information poster featuring artwork ‘All brains are different’ by Yellow Ladybugs, an autistic-led organisation, explaining what inclusive education is and how schools support students with disability.
• A School Saving Bonus postcard providing families with information about the School Saving Bonus - a one-off $400 bonus provided to all Victorian government school families with school-aged children enrolled for 2025.

Sport activities

• An AFL Schools activity booklet from the Australian Football League, featuring a range of educational and fun football-themed activities, as well as information about the NAB AFL Auskick program.
• A Melbourne Stars or Melbourne Renegades activity poster from Cricket Victoria. The posters include activities to learn more about cricket and information about getting involved in Cricket Victoria's entry-level program, Woolworths Cricket Blast.
• An activity booklet and memory game from Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens. The booklet includes fun activities, a chance to have a Melbourne Vixens player visit your school, and information on how to get involved in your local Woolworths NetSetGO netball starter program.

Health and wellbeing information and resources

• A Respectful Behaviours within the School Community information flyer outlining the shared roles of parents, carers and school staff in creating a positive environment for learning.
• A Primary School Nursing Program postcard containing information on a free health screening service offered to students in their first year of school, as well as websites and links to children’s health and wellbeing resources.
• Diffraction glasses from Optometry Victoria South Australia. The diffraction glasses allow Prep students to experience a range of colours and patterns from the dispersion of light to nurture their curiosity of how the eye works. A QR code will link families to Good Vision for Life, with quality information, including how to find a local optometrist.
• A Smile Squad interactive toothbrushing chart from Dental Health Services Victoria. The toothbrushing chart will remind families about the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day - after breakfast and before bed - and help build Prep students’ confidence and independence with brushing their teeth.
• A Healthy Food Fun activity booklet from VicHealth and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. The interactive booklet is full of fun activities and includes easy lunchbox recipes, a packet of seeds and information on the seasons and seasonal food. The booklet provides parents with conversation starters to support discussions with their child about healthy eating.

Find out more

For more information about starting school, visit Starting school.