Greater Dandenong and Casey kinders will be among the first in the state to get cash to access experts.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams announced on Friday 27 April that they would join 23 local government areas to share $58.1 million worth of school readiness funding.
The Australian-first program will fund access to experts and innovative programs.
All kinders operated by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in Victoria will also be able to access the funding.
“This Australian-first initiative is about ensuring no child is left behind – and that those who need extra help will get it,” Early Childhood Education Minister Jenny Mikakos said.
“Not every child has an equal chance to thrive at kindergarten and school readiness funding will mean that more kids will be ready for school and ready for life.”
One in five Victorian children start school developmentally vulnerable, according to the 2015 Australian Early Development Census, and those who start behind tend to stay behind.
The funding will allow kinders to tap into language and literacy professionals, speech therapists and child psychologists.
They’ll be brought in to work directly with children at kindergartens and build the capability of parents and educators.
“We want all Dandenong kids to start school on equal footing, if they need extra help through a speech therapist, or a literacy expert, this funding will provide that,” Ms Williams said.
It’s the first time school readiness funding has been made available to kindergartens.
It will become a permanent part of the Victorian kindergarten system and will boost kinder funding by 10 per cent when fully rolled out.
