Free Kindergarten for Refugee Children
Source: Victoria. Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development. Media Release
"A Brumby Government funding boost will give children from refugee and asylum seeking families in Victoria access to at least 10 hours a week of free kindergarten. Speaking during Refugee Week (June 15-21) Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand said the current kindergarten fee subsidy of $730 will be extended to include children from refugee and asylum seeking families, making kindergarten free. Ms Morand said the initiative extends to special humanitarian entrants. These are refugees who have suffered human rights violation in their home countries but have support from an Australian citizen, resident or community group.“Accessing a good quality kindergarten program is a vital part of a child’s learning with research indicating long term benefits for children who attend kindergarten,’’ Ms Morand said. The Brumby Government wants to ensure that disadvantage is not a barrier to participating and to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in an early learning program before school."