Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Kindergarten attendance and funding

The Minister for Youth and Community Services has provided information on kindergarten attendance levels and funding, in response to recent media reports.

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 1999 indicates that the participation rate in Victorian preschools was 93.7 % compared to South Australia (93%), Queensland (92.3%) Tasmania (84.2%), Western Australia (80.7%), and New South Wales (50.6%).

The report also states that the average hourly fee in Victoria is $1.10 compared to $3.48 in NSW and $1.70 in Queensland.

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, said that Commonwealth Grants Commission data which had been recently quoted by the Australian Education Union (AEU) took into account other sources of funding and was not a measure of actual State Government expenditure on preschools in Victoria.

Since 1994, grant levels have increased every year with the standard and rural preschool grant increasing by 18.5%. The standard preschool grant has increased from $800 to $949 per child. The rural preschool grant has increased from $1,000 to $1,188.

"Since 1996, the Government has provided $8.75 million in extra grants so that facilities and equipment could be upgraded," the Minister said.

"The number of Victorian children attending kindergarten has increased significantly in recent years. In 1994 there were 55,861 children attending; or 91% of the eligible population.

"In 1999 there are more than 60,700 children at preschool, or more than 93% of eligible youngsters. This is the highest participation rate ever."

As of February 1999, the Government is funding 1678 preschool locations in Victoria, 36 more than the year before and 368 more than February 1994.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Youth and Community Services, May 25, 1999)