Get a Head Start on Your Child’s Future with Our Funded Kindergarten Program

Funded Kindergarten VIC

Aurrum Kids is dedicated to providing quality education to all of our young learners by creating a warm and nurturing environment where children can play, grow, and thrive. We are proud to offer state government funded kindergarten programs that help make early childhood education accessible to all families.

As an Approved Kindergarten Long Day Care Service, we are able to participate in Victoria’s Free Kinder program which provides eligible children with 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten each week for the 2 years leading up to formal schooling. This means that you may be eligible for a $2,000 fee reduction (or pro-rata) over the course of your child’s 3-Year or 4-Year kindergarten enrolment.

Benefits

School Readiness Program

By enrolling your child in an Aurrum Kids preschool program, you can trust that they will be provided the skills, knowledge and tools to prepare for their schooling journey. Our programs include STEM learning, regular incursions and excursions, food and environmental awareness, social and emotional skills plus many more engaging experiences.

Access affordable and quality education for your child

By enrolling your child at Aurrum Kids, you can access affordable and quality education that provides your child with the best possible start to their educational journey. Our NSW Start Strong funded preschool program is designed to be engaging and stimulating, providing your child with the opportunity to learn through play, exploration and an emerging program.

Receive resources and support for your child’s education

Preschool is an exciting and important stage in a child’s life. Our nurturing and experienced educators prioritise creating a fun learning environment where children feel encouraged to learn, socialise and explore their talents. From hands-on projects to imaginative play, our program is purposefully designed to instil children with a lifelong love of learning, foster social skills and help build their confidence.

Get peace of mind

Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your child is receiving a world-class education that will prepare them for future academic and personal achievements. Our innovative teaching methods, high-quality resources and modern facilities ensure that your child experiences the best possible start to their educational journey. We are committed to building the connection between our children, centre and the local community.

Free up your schedule

Juggling work and family responsibilities can be a challenge. Our preschool program can help to free up your schedule, giving you the time you need to balance the demands of your work and life commitments.

How the Victorian Government’s Kindergarten Funding works

Check eligibility

To be eligible for government funded Kindergarten in VIC, families must meet certain criteria, including:

Residency: Your family must live in Victoria.
Age: Your child must be at least 3 years old.
Approved Kinder: The kinder program must be approved by the Victorian Department of Education and Training and be a participating service in the Free Kinder program.

Enrol in our government-funded kindergarten program

We’ll provide you with the forms and information you need to complete to receive your funding.

Provide written consent for our service to claim the funding

Simply fill in the forms and we’ll handle the rest.

Enjoy partially subsidised Kindergarten fees

Your childcare fees will be partially subsidised against the Kindergarten program.

Nurturing facilities

Early learning environment

Our facilities have been purpose-built with large outdoor and indoor spaces, promoting physical activity and creative thinking through a sustainable design. From well-equipped classrooms and art studios to outdoor kitchens and sensory rich play areas, our nurturing centres offer a healthy and safe early childhood learning environment for children to grow and develop.

Nutrition

At Aurrum Kids, we are passionate about the health of our little ones. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on nutrition and provide wholesome, fresh meals to support the growth and development of every child in our care. Our childcare menu features a variety of foods from different cultures, giving children a chance to explore new flavours while still enjoying their favourites.

Educators

Our highly trained childcare educators use a play-based approach that incorporates hands-on learning, language development, and social skills to create a supportive and nurturing environment for your child. By incorporating a play-based early learning curriculum, our educators aim to spark a lifelong love of learning in every child who walks through our doors.

Convenient for families

We understand that balancing work and family can be challenging. That’s why we have designed our facilities with your convenience in mind. From our convenient drop off and pick up spaces, to our extended hours of 6:30am to 6:30pm, we aim to make life a little easier for you and your family.

Frequently asked questions

How does funded kindergarten work?

In Victoria, 3 and 4 year old children are eligible for partially subsidised pre-kindergarten and kindergarten fees at participating services.

Participating long day care services will receive the Free Kinder funding directly from the government and then pass on a saving in the form of reduced fees on a regular basis (fortnightly or monthly).

Who is eligible for funded Kindergarten?

Three or Four-Year-Old children must be enrolled for a minimum of 15 hours per week to be eligible for funded Kindergarten programs.

There are more flexible options for three year old kindergarten programs, meaning providers will determine how many hours that they offer funded programs. This can range between 5 and 15 hours per week. At Aurrum Kids, we aim to provide 15 hours per week for both Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old children.

You can read more about the eligibility requirements here.

How much can I expect to pay in the end?

In Victoria, Free Kinder can mean a saving of up to $2,000 per child. Your out of pocket cost will vary depending on your centre of enrolment.

Where do I need to apply?

Aurrum Kids will provide eligible families with a form that they can fill in to receive funding prior to their child starting Kindergarten.

Can I switch to a funded kindergarten from a non-funded kindergarten?

Families can access only fee relief at one Kindergarten or long day care service at any specific time. However, families can switch to a funded kindergarten from a non-funded kindergarten if they are only going to receive funding from one service.

Where can I find more information about funded kindergarten programs?

You can find out more information about the Victorian program here.

Our centres

Ballarat

Victoria

Mornington Peninsula