Goya Dmytryshchak
A central portal for families to register for three- and four-year-old kindergarten was launched this week in Hobsons Bay.
From next year, the state government will fund three-year-old kindergarten for a minimum of five hours per week.
Currently, only four-year-old kindergarten is subsidised.
It is estimated that in 2022 there will be 1405 eligible three year olds and 1389 eligible four year olds in Hobsons Bay.
Hobsons Bay mayor Jonathon Marsden said he felt strongly about early education, and the central portal would simplify registration.
“Studies consistently show that two years of kindergarten is better than one,“ he said.
“The research points to better social and cognitive skills, exam performance and emotional outcomes for those who attended kinder for two years, and from 2022 all of our youngest minds in Hobsons Bay will have that opportunity.
“Council, together with the state government, will ensure families and children in Hobsons Bay have access to high quality education and care programs.
“Having the registration process all part of one easy portal will make it accessible and simple for families to sign up.
“As the parent of a three-year-old, I feel strongly about the importance of education in the early years and encourage all parents and carers to register their children for the kindergarten program.”
Kindergarten accessed through long day care will need to be applied for through the individual centres.
A video helping parents and caregivers to register has been translated into Arabic, simplified Chinese, Hindi, Karen and Punjabi languages, and is available on the council’s website and social media channels.
