Pre-prep to roll out in Gannawarra Shire

By Adair Winder

Jan 31, 2023

Young minds: Pre-prep programs will commence from 2025. Photo by Megan Fisher

Victorian Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Minister Ingrid Stitt has announced Gannawarra Shire will be one of the first regional areas in the state to benefit from 16 to 30 hours of free pre-prep each week.

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The pre-prep programs will be delivered to four-year-old children through sessional kindergartens and long day-care centres.

The programs will roll out in Gannawarra Shire, Ararat Rural City, Hindmarsh Shire, Murrindindi Shire, Northern Grampians Shire and Yarriambiack Shire from 2025.

The service will launch in Campaspe Shire in 2028.

Ms Stitt said early education had the most profound impact on a child’s development.

“These once-in-a-generation reforms will not just give our kids a quality early education, they will also give them the best start to their whole lives,” Ms Stitt said.

Children from a refugee background, children known to child protection and First Nations children will be eligible for pre-prep from 2026, while children whose families hold Commonwealth concession cards will be eligible from 2028.

From 2032, all children across Victoria will be eligible for 30 hours over 40 weeks of the year.

Participating kindergarten programs will receive funding directly from the Victorian Government.