Kindergarten Fees
Each Early Childhood Education Service (kindergarten) managed by ECKA receive funding through Government to operate the 3 and 4 year old kindergarten programs in the two years before school. Government funding amounts to 65% of the total revenue required to operate a service.
ECKA has to set kindergarten attendance fees to cover the gap between this funding and the cost of running the centre. This varies depending on the hours of attendance, group sizes and extra costs such as excursions.
To operate an engaging and interactive educational program at our kinder we undertake fundraising activities. Successful fundraising campaigns enable kindergartens to significantly improve both indoor and outdoor educational environments, through the purchase of play equipment or the purchase of plants and landscaping items.
Participation in fundraising is voluntary and services endeavour to raise funds through varied events and community programs.
For the current fee schedule for you kindergarten/preschool please contact the ECKA office on (03) 5339 5055.
How do I get the kindergarten fee subsidy?
Complete the fee information form given to you on enrolment at the kindergarten, or let staff know your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, when you are enrolling your child in kindergarten or at the start of the kindergarten year.
ECKA will claim for the fee subsidy from the Department of Education and Training on your behalf. The payment is made directly to the kindergarten, so that kindergarten is free for your child or provided at a greatly reduced cost.
For more information contact ECKA on (03) 5339 5055.
Free or low-cost kindergarten
You can access free kindergarten (or kindergarten at minimal cost) if you or your child has one of the concession cards or visas listed in the table below, your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or you have triplets or quadruplets attending in the same year.
Concession cards and Visas
This is because the Victorian Government funds a kindergarten fee subsidy to provide for 15 hours of a 4yo kindergarten and between 5 hours and 15 hours of 3yo funded kindergarten per week for free. If your local kindergarten program is more than 15 hours per week, you may receive those extra hours for free, or you may have to pay for the extra hours only.