Apply for four-year-old kindergarten

2021 kindergarten	Your child must be 4 years of age by 30 April 2021
2022 kindergarten	Your child must be 4 years old by 30 April 2022

Funded kindergarten programs are also offered in long day care (child care) settings. These are known as integrated kindergarten programs. Integrated kindergarten lets children access education and care in one setting until they attend school. The programs are led by degree-qualified teachers. 

This option is great for families who are unable to access sessional 15 hour programs offered by sessional kindergartens.

Fees for integrated kindergarten programs will vary, and will need to be discussed with centre management prior to commencement.

See our childcare centres page for more information

Enrolment application fee

There is a non-refundable fee of $24 per child. This is an administration fee and does not contribute to your kindergarten fees. 

Please note: You do not pay this fee if: 

• your child identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ​​
• your child is identified on the birth certificate as being a multiple birth child (triplets or more)
• the child is listed on a Health Care Card or the Parent/Guardian has a Fee Subsidy Card listed below.

 

Health Care Card	Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veterans Affairs Gold or White Card	Refugee Visa (Subclass 200)
In-Country Special Humanitarian Visa (Subclass 201)	Global Special Humanitarian Visa (Subclass  202)
Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (Subclass 786)	Protection Visa (Subclass 866)
Emergency Rescue Visa (Subclass 203)	Woman at Risk Visa (Subclass 204)
Bridging Visas A-E

• An application must be completed for each child.
• Please ensure that your child’s name is written as it appears on their birth certificate, passport or Australian immunisation history statement.
• The application is to be completed and signed by the parent and/or guardian.
• If there is a court order or parental/guardian order in place in relation to the child’s custody, you need to provide a copy with your application.
• If you are the child’s guardian but not a parent, please provide supporting documents.
• Council officers will only discuss information regarding the child with person/s listed contact in the application.

Please note your application does not guarantee your child a place.   

Child’s age	Child’s birth certificate, passport, Australian immunisation history statement, or immigration document.
Residency in Merri-bek	A recent document with your name and street address: Rates notice Property contract of sale (section with name of purchaser and address) Rental agreement Utility bill Driver licence Home or car insurance receipt Medicare or Centrelink letter If you are a student from overseas and live in Merri-bek, and do not have any of these documents, provide a letter from a college or university to verify your address.
A link to the municipality, if you do not live in the City of Merri-bek	If you work or study in Merri-bek, a letter or invoice from your employer or education provider, or copy of student card. If you have a child who attends a child care centre in Merri-bek, include a fee invoice from the service provider. If you have a child that attends a school in Merri-bek, include a fee invoice from the school which includes your child's name and address.
Asylum seeker	A visa or immigrant document.
Refugee status	Immi card.
Additional needs	Support letter from a medical professional or community health service.
Orders applicable	Upload an intervention, parental or custodial order document.

_{When applying for kindergarten, you may select three kindergartens that you would like your child to attend, and put these in order of preference. Only choose kindergartens where you are prepared to accept a place. You are welcome to visit as many kindergartens in your area as possible to decide which kindergarten best suits you and your child.}

_{You can change your kindergarten preferences between 1 March and 31 May through the Central Registration System or by emailing us. After 31 May, you will not be able to change your preferences.} 

The Kindergarten Central Registration System has been designed to be simple and fair. We do not manage kindergartens in Merri-bek. We have an agreement with the participating kindergartens to process applications for them. Each kindergarten can only accept a certain number of children into their groups, due to their licensing agreement.

Applications received between 1 March and 31 May will be prioritised based on a points and proximity system. During this time period, the date you apply will not affect your kindergarten application.

Please Note:  Applications received from 1 June will be processed in date of received order only – no points are given. 

Priority groups and reserved places

_{In accordance to the Victorian Government's Priority of Access guidelines, kindergarten places prioritise the following:}

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
• Children with additional needs
• Children at risk or known to Child Protection, Child FIRST or an Out-of-Home Care arrangement
• Children of refugee or Asylum seeker status
• Children who qualify for Early Start Kindergarten (ESK), which gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week. For further information, please contact the Kindergarten Central Enrolment Team

Note: If the kindergarten is full, your child’s name will be placed on the list as a priority until a place becomes available.

If you apply between 1 March and 31 May, your application is given points as follows:

Families who are Merri-bek residents and/or rate payers	100 points
The child attends a 3-year-old program at first preferred kindergarten	70 points
Other children in the family attend or have attended first preferred kindergarten between 2019 and 2021	20 points
More than one child is attending kindergarten (e.g. twins, triplets, step-siblings or children of same age with same legal guardian)	40 points
Non residents of Merri-bek with one of these links: parents/guardian who work or study in Merri-bek, or other children who attend school or child care in Merri-bek.	50 points

See our list of participating kindergartens

_{Offers will be made by email or mail and sent to whoever has been identified as Parent/Guardian One on the application form, unless otherwise requested.}

_{Please see the below table to find out when to expect your offer. Receiving an offer will depend on when you submitted your application.}

Children offered places in 2021 and deferred	In March - Deferred offers sent to families.
Applications received between 1 March and 31 May	By the end of August - Families are notified if their child is offered a place or on a waiting list.
Applications received after 1 June (These applications are processed in date order received.)	From September onwards - Families are notified if their child is offered a place or on a waiting list.

If you are offered a place you will have 7 days to accept and respond.

If there are no places available at your preferred kindergarten, we will let you know of places available at other kindergartens. You may choose one of them or remain on a waiting list.

If you wish to change your kindergarten preference after places have been offered, you can contact us to enquire about availability.

_{In September we send kindergartens the details of children who have accepted a place with them. If you have accepted a place, the kindergarten will contact you before the end of December with information on fees and the days and times your child will attend.}

_{If your child is offered a place for 2022, but you decide they should not go to kindergarten until 2023, you can defer their enrolment. This means the place is reserved for you and you do not have to apply again next year.}