What is Priority of Access?
The Victorian Government’s Priority of Access policy helps decide the order in which places are offered when a kindergarten program receives more applications than places available.
The Priority of Access policy applies to all Victorian Government funded kindergarten programs, including in both sessional kindergartens and long day care kindergarten services.
Priority of Access must be applied through a Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) or by an individual service.
Priority of Access helps children and families who may need extra support to access kindergarten first.
How Priority of Access works
When a kindergarten program receives more applications than places available, services must prioritise enrolments in line with the Victorian Government’s Priority of Access policy.
Priority is first given to eligible children and families under the Priority of Access criteria regardless of where they live, which supports children who may need extra support to access kindergarten. This includes:
- children whose family identify as Aboriginal
- children experiencing circumstances that may affect their safety or wellbeing
- children from refugee and asylum seeker families
- children and/or families holding concession cards
- children and/or families with additional needs
- children accessing an additional year of 3-or 4-Year-Old Kinder.
Services then prioritise children already attending the service so they can continue their kindergarten program in a familiar environment.
After Priority of Access requirements have been applied, services may use locally agreed criteria to prioritise remaining places. This can include factors such as sibling connections and residential proximity to the service.
More information about how children are prioritised for kindergarten place is available on the Priority of Access for 2027 page.
If you are unsure about your eligibility for Priority of Access, or need help with your child’s registration and enrolment, your kindergarten service or CRES can support you through the process.
What you need to do
You do not need to complete a separate application for Priority of Access. However, it is important to:
- provide relevant information to your local CRES provider or kindergarten service when registering
- discuss your circumstances with your kindergarten service or local council, if you think your child may be eligible for Priority of Access.
You may also be asked to provide supporting documents as part of the registration and enrolment process.
All children can access a kindergarten program
All children are eligible to access a funded kindergarten program in Victoria, and there are enough kindergarten places in all localities.
If demand is high at your preferred kindergarten service, the Priority of Access policy helps services prioritise places in a fair and transparent way. This means some children are offered places earlier than others based on Priority of Access criteria or local enrolment processes.
If your preferred service is full, your local kindergarten service or CRES provider can help you explore other available options in your area.
How your kindergarten service can help
Kindergarten services or local councils are there to support families through the registration and Kindergarten services or local councils are there to support families through the registration and enrolment process.
They can:
- talk through the Priority of Access criteria and what they may mean for your family
- support your child’s enrolment process
- help you understand local enrolment arrangements and available options
- assist you to find a suitable kindergarten place for your child.
If you have questions about Priority of Access or need support with enrolment, contact your kindergarten service directly.
Priority of Access facts
- Priority of Access helps kindergarten services offer places in a fair and transparent way, when there are more applications than places available.
- All Victorian Government funded kindergarten services must have a Priority of Access policy in place.
- Services first offer places to children identified under the Priority of Access criteria, regardless of where they live.
- Kindergarten services must clearly explain their enrolment process to families and can support you to understand your eligibility and available options.
- PoA does not guarantee a place at your preferred kindergarten.
More information
To learn more about Priority of Access visit the Priority of Access 2027 page.
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