Kindergarten Outreach

Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) provides free or low-cost kindergarten access for eligible children, who must be at least three years old by 30 April of the year they will attend and can only start ESK after their third birthday.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children: All three-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are eligible.
• Children Known to Child Protection: Three-year-old children involved with Child Protection or referred to Child First.
• Refugee and Asylum Seeker Children: All refugee and asylum seeker children qualify for ESK.

* If your child or family has experienced displacement (such as a refugee or refugee-like experience) but does not meet the automatic eligibility criteria, you may still qualify for ESK through an exemption process.

This initiative’s primary goals are to assist families and children with:

• Registering, enrolling, and attending three- and four-year-old kindergarten
• Accessing local support services such as playgroups and maternal and child health
• Transitioning from kindergarten to primary school
• Accessing interpreter services and essential resources

Additionally, the Outreach Team works to enhance the capacity of early childhood educators and teachers to engage effectively with families in their programs.