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[VIC] Free 4YO Kinder and 3YO Sessional Kinder 2021

2220

Daddy Dan has granted us free 4YO kinder

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/supporting-families-free-kind…

"
10 November 2020
This year, parents – but mostly mums – have had to juggle work and childcare and kids learning from home. Even now with students back at kinder and school, we know that balancing act isn’t any easier.

We want to give families one less thing to worry about.

It’s why the Andrews Labor Government will deliver free kinder for 2021 and support for more outside school hours care – saving parents thousands of dollars and helping more women back into work.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will deliver up to $169.6 million to make kinder free next year, saving families around $2000 for every child enrolled in a participating funded kindergarten program.

The investment will not only make sure more kids are getting a great early childhood education, it’ll make it easier for parents – particularly women – to return to the workforce as we recover from this pandemic.

Under this investment, subsidies will be offered to early childhood services providing funded kindergarten programs – meaning free kinder for four-year-olds and eligible three-year-olds attending a participating sessional kinder.

Families with children enrolled in kinder programs at a long day care centre will also benefit from a saving of around $2000 in fees.

And for those families that have kids attending unfunded three-year-old programs in sessional kindergartens, there will also be reduced fees.

This investment builds on the Labor Government’s commitment to deliver kinder for every three-year-old, reaching every part of the State by 2022.

To further help parents return to work or increase their hours, the Government will invest $81.6 million to increase the availability of before and after school care.

Grants of up to $75,000 will be made available to start new outside school hours care programs at up to 400 government schools – so that any school that currently doesn’t have a program can apply to receive a grant.

This investment will mean more families can rely on before and after school care – giving parents greater flexibility when it comes to work, study, training or re-entering the workforce.

The funding will help establish new services across our state and provide support for costs including equipment, setup and administration, facility upgrades and transport.

Not only will these investments support our kids, they’ll help make sure families – and our state – can begin to recover from this pandemic.
"

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    • I've never heard daycare called 'kinder'. Is this a Victorian thing?

      No, they are different things in Vic.

      Although, some daycare centres do provide a funder 4yo kinder program.

    • +3

      Day care is a centre that just cares for kids, kinder is a part of the education stream - kinder, prep, grade one etc. It's called differently elsewhere in the country, which is a bit mental.

    • In QLD we have Kindergarten, or at least, we did when I was a kid.

      • +1

        same in SA

      • Isn't kindergarten basically our prep up in QLD?

    • +1

      There is a sessional kinder which is for 3 and 4-year-old children. The 3-year-olds attend 9 hours a week, 4-year-olds 15 hours a week. A bachelor qualified educator runs the sessions which are play-based and focus on preparing the children for school.

      Childcare is for children from 6 months to 5 years. This is open for long days, usually, around 7 am to 6 pm.

      All childcare centers must now provide a kinder program run by a bachelor qualified educator. The sessions are also play-based and focus on school readiness. The younger children who attend the center (3 and under) participate in a play-based program that still involves lesson planning but it is not compulsory.

      Sessional kinder is paid for 'per term' and is 'usually' used by families with one stay at home parent (as the child is usually only there a few hours).
      Childcare is more for working families, but both provide a funded kinder program with a bachelor qualified educator.

  • Hmm paid my fees for 2021 yesterday. I wonder if Ill get an immediate refund or some sort of tax claim in July.

    • That will depend on your kinder.

      Best to contact them, but they probably won't know as yet.

      There will also be costs they they will incur for the additional processing now required for refunds.

      • Yep gonna email them.

        • Or wait until they contact you.

          I'm pretty sure that they can't make a decision until their committee meets to discuss the implications.

          • +1

            @jv: Nah not waiting foir them to contact me, because in my experience with council childcare and council kinder, they tend to forget things unless you flag them and remind them. Administration is not their strong point.

            • @Skramit:

              council kinder

              Which council runs kinders? It woudn't be many…

              • +1

                @jv: Theres heaps in my local council area. Basically one per suburb inside the council. Maybe it varies state to state, council to council.

    • +1

      Fees were refunded for a chunk of this year, I don't know whether you will get them back immediately I am almost certain you will get them back.

      • I am almost certain you will get them back.

        If they get refunded in full, then Kinder services will decrease to account for the increased cost.

  • +1

    TIL Victorians call Kindy 'Kinder'.

    • +4

      Some places call Prep 'Foundation'

      • My kid's school uses both words interchangeably in official documents, and I'm sure I've seen similar from the Vic education department.

    • +2

      I mean it's originally from a German word - kindergarten

      • +1

        Yeah, and Kindy is a shorter form of that word, an aussie abbreviation. If you can be bothered pronouncing the -er, mine as well just say the whole word imo.

        • +1

          Ah that's a fair enough point mate. I guess as someone who calls it Kinder usually I don't think there is much of a difference haha

          • +1

            @CheapCoffee: Funnily enough you'll find most are called pre-schools in Vic anyway.
            But no matter what terminology you use, or how precise you decide to use the Queen's English, it's all the same bloody thing!

    • Yeah, plus Parma vs in QLD we call it a Parmy.

      what the heck happened to you guys down south.

      • +1

        more Italians maybe?

  • +5

    This news made me smile. Cheers!

    • +1

      Until you get slugged with new taxes to pay for it.

      • +16

        Man, Dan really is living in your head rent-free. I don't mind a political discourse, but don't you feel like you lost the plot on this thread a bit?

        • +13

          are you implying JV ever had the plot?

        • -3

          but don't you feel like you lost the plot on this thread a bit

          Maybe not many people can see the agenda behind this political decision.

          • +1

            @jv: Ignore the dan lovers, JV. If I start calling the state premier, 'daddy', I obviously have lost the plot ages ago! Anyone seen a real life Stockholm syndrome case before? There are millions of them in Victoria right now. Tragic …

      • +10

        You realise governments are there is spend 'your' taxes, not to just horde it and do nothing with them?

        • +1

          Or they can choose not to tax you (tax less) in the first place

        • -4

          You realise governments are there is spend 'your' taxes

          Our taxes have been well and truly already spent…

          Where is Dan getting the money for this splurge ???

          • +5

            @jv: the budget

            • @abuch47:

              the budget

              pretty sure that's already spent

              • +1

                @jv:

                The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will deliver up to $169.6 million to make kinder free next year

                • +1

                  @abuch47: Paid from where ?

                  • +5

                    @jv: Is this a complaint about deficit spending? The federal govt + all states (except WA) are doing this in an effort to soften the COVID recession. It's not inherently bad.

                    • @evanjd:

                      soften the COVID recession

                      Which is best done by creating jobs… They generate more taxes and improve the cycle of money. Welfare doesn't. The federal government have already announced an extension to welfare until the end of March. The focus of government now is to generate a climate conducive of allowing people to find work… No point in more childcare if there are no jobs. Might as well stay home and look after your own kids…

                      This is just more crap from Dan to get more votes. He would've been better off getting votes by not stuffing up in the first place. It's not going to help the economy…

                      • +3

                        @jv: I don't think this is being positioned as just a welfare package though, the presser says (emphasis mine):

                        Re free kinder:

                        The investment will not only make sure more kids are getting a great early childhood education, it’ll make it easier for parents – particularly women – to return to the workforce as we recover from this pandemic.

                        Re before and after-school care:

                        To further help parents return to work or increase their hours, the Government will invest $81.6 million to increase the availability of before and after school care.

                        and

                        This investment will mean more families can rely on before and after school care – giving parents greater flexibility when it comes to work, study, training or re-entering the workforce.

                        It reads like it's intended to compliment job creation measures.

                      • +1

                        @jv: I don’t think that’s fair. So far, I haven’t seen any comments taking into account the children’s perspective.

                        With free Kinder, children will have a safe and space to learn and develop. Consider children who are vulnerable or with special needs — they will be able to access support more readily, and the early childhood environments will be able to provide them with skills that help them as they move into school, or direct parents to the right services that they will be able to get the support they need.

                        Plus, it’s not welfare that needs to be raised. The sector isn’t just a glorified babysitting service. The ECEC sector requires educators to hold qualifications in order to be hired as early childhood educators. A boost in this sector will also increase jobs from this aspect. And most obviously, yet often missed, early childhood educators educate. ECEC stands for Early Childhood Education and Care

                        • -1

                          @mjacob:

                          With free Kinder, children will have a safe and space to learn and develop.

                          Lots of experts disagree with you…

                          Consider children who are vulnerable or with special needs — they will be able to access support more readily

                          Most don't go through the kinder system. Those that do, require special funding and a carer.

                          • +2

                            @jv:

                            Lots of experts disagree with you…

                            Who are these “experts”, and what are they saying that disagree with the point I’m making?

                            Most don't go through the kinder system. Those that do, require special funding and a carer.

                            That doesn’t mean none of them do. What about children who don’t have a diagnosis? Whose parents are unaware? With free kinder, the opportunity for them to be engaging with educators who are more aware of the children’s learning and development will probably increase. Also, does your point somehow make the free funded kinder bad for the welfare of society?

                            • @mjacob: Maybe the experts he is referring to is Bolt, Jones, Credlin, Murray or Murdoch.

                              All of those public health experts with no vested interests whatsoever.

                      • +1

                        @jv: There are literally thousands of job adverts up lol

                        You are responsible for your life. If you're sitting around waiting on somebody to love you, to fix you, to even help you, you are wasting your time. Only you have the power to take responsibility to move your life up.
                        The sooner you get that, the sooner your life gets into gear.

                        People's livlihoods were impacted by COVID, if you dont have the aptitude to get a job, stand up and take action, start an online business, learn something, become more healthy, make money from youtube. it's not hard, we are in 2020, you have all the free tools and resources in the world to be successful.

                        • @karkashian:

                          There are literally thousands of job adverts up lol

                          https://lmip.gov.au/default.Aspx?LMIP/LFR_SAFOUR/LFR_Unemplo…

                          You are responsible for your life.

                          Not in a dictatorship…

                          • +2

                            @jv: that's great, your little link to the graph shows we are in a better postion than most of the other states
                            did you check out seek to see how many jobs are up…..mindblowing
                            looks like a lot of people refocused during lockdown and are coming out stronger than ever. sad the same can't be said for you. If you're sitting around waiting on somebody to love you, to fix you, to even help you, you are wasting your time. Only you have the power to take responsibility to move your life up.
                            The sooner you get that, the sooner your life gets into gear.

                            Stellar job to victoria and dan we all say!

                            • @karkashian:

                              shows we are in a better position

                              6.7% is pretty crap.

                              Also, once job keeper stops next march, expect a HUGE jump in unemployment…

                              • +1

                                @jv: it's pretty good compared to the average for the rest of the country.
                                it's also pretty good compared to most other countries in the world.

                                we're doing ok, it will be alright. take a breath and enjoy yourself from time to time.

                                • @karkashian:

                                  it's pretty good compared to the average for the rest of the country.

                                  except that the rest of the country is also doing pretty crap… mainly thanks to Victoria….

                            • @karkashian: '[w]e all'? Obviously not! Lol!

                  • +2

                    @jv: Your understanding of government budgets, is that of a family man running a household- which makes literally zero sense from a federal/state level. I'd suggest actually reading up on the topic and learning about how revenue and taxes work for a state Government. Instead of this insane person tirade you seem to be bent on.

                    • @ONEMariachi:

                      reading up on the topic and learning about how revenue and taxes work for a state Government.

                      Sounds to me like you are the one needing to do some homework…

      • Don't worry all the WA federal donations can pay for everything .
        Never ending money box that thankfully the Federal Govt control .

      • That's what taxes do. Pay for services.

        Cutting taxes leads to the cutting of services.

        Sadly it's often only when someone needs the services that they care.

        • That's what taxes do. Pay for services.
          Cutting taxes leads to the cutting of services.

          So we'll need more taxes to pay for these additional services.
          We are already one of the most taxed countries on the planet. No wonder those that can, move their money overseas…

  • +1

    As great as free kinder is, it feels really unnecessary tbh…..whats the reason?
    Also, how will this affect childcare run kinders? Will you receive a discounted rate, or will the childcare just pocket the extra money?

  • +4

    Yes, more debt for us Gen Z to pay off in the future! Thank you!

  • +3

    Not much of a bargain when you have to pay it off for the rest of your life

  • +5

    As an Ozbargainer it's your duty to down vote JV.

  • Great initiative…
    Just a pity next year is the one year we won't have one in kinder!!!

    • +4

      Build for the future?

  • +3

    good thing, this is acutally a better spend than all the job destoryer programes since covid lockdown.

  • +1

    Dank deal. Thanks OP bought six.

  • -5

    Wow, what a surprise. Non-breeders having to support the breeder's poor choices

    • lol

  • I was hoping this would be free Kinder Surprise.

    But it’s not. and now I’m sad.

  • +3

    I don't get it, why is JV mad?

    • +14

      didn't meet the age requirement

  • -4

    Woman should be looking after their own children. Have a baby and dump it in childcare straight away is not natural

    • Shhh, you'll upset the 3rd wave feminists.

  • +5

    Thanks this is great. My kid will start 4yo kinder next year and this will help a lot. Definitely need the assistance.

    Thanks for posting

    • -1

      Thanks for posting

      Posting doesn't change a thing.

      This is a government policy announcement. Not a bargain that people can choose to take up… It belongs in the forums.

      • +6

        Do you seriously have nothing better to do than complain about this?

        • -2

          I don't see why that should bother you?

          Maybe you don't have anything better to do…

  • Is there a height limit?

    • I doubt it, unless they change the anti discrimination laws…

  • +6

    Perfect timing ! My son goes to 4 year old kinder next year !

  • +3

    When will the governmental "bargains" for those WITHOUT kids be announced?

    • Link

      Having children can cost an average of $300,000 up to the age of 17. If a partner leaves work, that doubles to $600,000.

      Is saving $680 a week not good enough a bargain for you?

      • Single and no kids .. =P

        • +1

          Even more savings! Lucky you 😂

          • @Herbse: .. but i want a bargain for my taxes too .. lol ..

            how about taco tuesday's for those of us without kids?

      • +1

        Childless people aren't saving $680/week, you're just choosing to spend $680/week extra

  • +10

    First an excellent response and commitment to handling covid and now this. Nice to have a government commited to the people and able to make decisions that are hard but work.

    (cue the salty haters who will cry about the hotel "bungle", even though private security was used all around the country and what happened in Vic could have happened anywhere)

    • First an excellent response and commitment to handling covid

      Sarcasm ???

    • +1

      what happened in Vic could have happened anywhere

      Then why did Dan sack Mikakos if she did nothing wrong?

      • +5

        You should start a salt mining business.

      • +5

        Then why did Dan sack Mikakos if she did nothing wrong?

        Ummm, not sure where you source your news from… but pretty sure she quit!

    • Unfortunately we don't have the same standards at federal level.

      The Conservative MPs are too busy cheating on their wives and sleeping with staffers.

      Not sure what their day job is.

    • '[C]ould have happened anywhere' but didn't. We Victorians are so damn lucky!

  • +8

    I think I know who JV is - it's Tim Smith (a.k.a doughnut dong)

    • I've never seem Tim Smith and Dan in the same room together… They might be the same person. Similar IQs…

  • +1

    How about couple who don't have children? not fair

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