Children’s Week Package To Strengthen Early Childhood Education For Victorian Families

The Andrews Labor Government has announced more than a million dollars worth of initiatives to boost the quality of early childhood education in Victoria.

Announced during National Children’s Week, the package will provide educators with richer professional development opportunities and increase support for families, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.

The investment comes as the Labor Government considers the findings from the Early Childhood consultations on making Victoria the Education State, which concluded earlier this month.

The Children’s Week package includes:

• $260,000 for internationally recognised training for 50 experienced early childhood teachers so they can mentor and support new graduates and teachers working in isolated areas
• $70,000 in training for 900 early childhood professionals to work with children who have experienced trauma and family violence
• $190,000 for one-on-one training to equip early childhood teachers to respond to new mandatory reporting obligations to better identify children at risk of abuse
• $485,000 in additional transition support funding to assist kindergartens transition to new staff-to-child ratios, including extra resources to assist with their strategic and financial planning
• $50,000 in grants to help establish new community playgroups across the State, especially in areas where none or a low number currently exist

The Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – which means strengthening our early childhood education services to give every child the best start in life.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“Improving training and professional development opportunities plays a crucial role in boosting overall quality across our early childhood services.”

“Children’s Week offers the chance to focus attention on the needs of Victoria’s children, especially those who do not have the same opportunities as others.”

“We are making Victoria the Education State, which starts with giving every child the best possible start in life by supporting early brain development.”