Overview
Education is well known to be linked to improved wellbeing and increased equity, with kindergarten and early schooling a critical starting point to set Aboriginal children up for life.
Measures under Goal 4 have remained steady
The proportion of Aboriginal children funded for four-year-old kindergarten has remained steady. While the percentage of Aboriginal children funded to participate in Early-Start kindergarten has decreased.
The proportion of Aboriginal children who are vulnerable on one or more domains of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) has also remained steady since the last AEDC in 2021.
Closing the Gap - How Victoria is tracking nationally
Outcome 3: In 2024, an estimated 94.2 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Year Before Full-time Schooling (YBFS) age cohort were enrolled in a preschool program across Australia, compared to 121.2 per cent in Victoria. Enrolment proportions may exceed 100 per cent due to enrolment and population data being from different sources and limitations in the accuracy of Australian Bureau of Statistics Aboriginal population estimates for kindergarten aged children. Nationally, based on progress from the baseline year (2016), the target shows improvement and is on track to be met. Victoria has exceeded the target and is now focused on improving preschool attendance rates.
Outcome 4: In 2024, 33.9 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across Australia commencing school were assessed as being developmentally on track in all five AEDC domains, compared to 35.8 per cent in Victoria. Nationally, based on progress from the baseline year (2018), the target is worsening. In Victoria this target shows improvement, however, there remains significant work to do.
Goal 4 directly aligns with the following Closing the Gap Outcomes and Targets
Outcome 3: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are engaged in high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education in their early years.
- Target 3: By 2025, 95 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are enrolled in preschool in the Year Before Full-time Schooling.
Outcome 4: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive in their early years.
- Target 4: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) to 55 per cent.
Data Note
All measures under this goal are reported on.
4.1 Optimise early childhood development and participation in kinder
Measure 4.1.1 Number and proportion of eligible children enrolled in a funded four-year-old kindergarten program in the year before school
What does the data say?
In 2024, there were 2,024 Aboriginal children enrolled in a funded four-year-old kindergarten program in the year before school. This is 100 per cent of the eligible Aboriginal children in Victoria.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
The number of enrolments in funded four-year-old kindergartens has remained high over the past 5 years. Victoria’s sustained proportion of over 90 per cent of eligible Aboriginal children enrolled means results are improving.
The result of 100 per cent should be treated with caution, however it does indicate a sustained improvement in this measure. Figures of 100 per cent and above are achievable with this measure due to undercounts in population figures for Aboriginal children in Victoria.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024, 96 per cent of all eligible Victorian children were in funded four-year-old kindergarten programs. Since 2018, Aboriginal children have been enrolled at the same rate as or higher than all children.
VAEAI Early Years Engagement Program (EYEP)
SDRF enabler 2: Address racism and promote cultural safety
The Early Years Engagement Program (EYEP) is a statewide initiative managed by the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) that supports early childhood services across Victoria to strengthen culturally inclusive practice and embed Koorie perspectives into everyday service design, delivery and practice.
Building on the existing work of VAEAI’s Early Years Program, the EYEP assists services with building confidence in Aboriginal inclusion to ensure Koorie children and families experience early years settings as welcoming, culturally strong and respectful.
The EYEP utilises a range of mechanisms to assist with improving the cultural inclusivity of early years services, including: Supporting services to better incorporate Koorie perspectives into their service design and delivery, through promoting the importance of connection with local Aboriginal organisations and community, Supporting services to establish relationships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Traditional Owners in their local area, Building the capability of services to improve access and participation for Koorie families through promoting awareness and use of Koorie-specific Early Years resources, Enhancing the skills and knowledge of services to improve their practice and develop an understanding of protocols to respectfully engage with the Koorie community.
Early Years Engagement Program Facilitators assist with building the capability of early childhood services to create welcoming, culturally safe environments for Koorie children and families, regardless of whether Aboriginal children are currently enrolled at the service. Through the program, EYEP Facilitators can:
•Support services to embed First Nations perspectives into planning, pedagogy, and daily practice
•Provide guidance on culturally inclusive environments, celebrations and engagement approaches
•Provide information and support to connect with local Aboriginal organisations and community supports
•Support implementation of the VAEAI Koorie Early Years: Best Practice and Protocols – A Practitioner’s Guide
•Strengthen understanding of Aboriginal culture, identity and self determination in early years education.
Across the 2024-25 financial year, the EYEP received 418 referrals from services seeking support with cultural inclusion. Early Years Engagement Facilitators provided information to all referred services and visited 172 services (which accounted for almost half of all services) to provide more tailored support for services and staff.
The EYEP also works in collaboration with a range of early years initiatives, including bupup balak wayipungang, Aboriginal Best Start, the Department of Education’s Koorie Education Workforce (KEW) and Early Childhood Improvement Branches (ECIBs).
Measure 4.1.2 Number of children funded to participate in Early Start Kindergarten
What does the data say?
In 2024, 1,680 Aboriginal children were enrolled in Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. Of these, 1,573 Aboriginal children were funded to participate in Early Start Kindergarten. 93.5 per cent of eligible Aboriginal children were enrolled in Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2024 (including Early Start Kindergarten enrolments). Children enrolled in Early Start Kindergarten are a portion of those enrolled in three-year-old kindergarten.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Kindergarten participation rates are calculated using ABS Estimated Residential Populations. Following a methodology review, these estimates increased for Aboriginal populations in 2024.
While the proportion of children enrolled in Early Start Kindergarten and Three-Year-Old Kindergarten indicates a decrease in 2024, the number of children enrolled in these programs continued to increase (from 1,578 in 2023 to 1,680 in 2024). Note also that some Aboriginal children have been enrolled in Three-Year-Old Kindergarten but not Early Start Kindergarten since the introduction of statewide Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2022. This should be considered when comparing historical enrolment and participation rates.
The number and proportion of Aboriginal children in both programs have remained high over the past 3 years showing a sustained improvement in results. Although the proportion of children funded in Early Start Kindergarten has decreased since 2023, it is still an increase over the long term and improving.
Supporting First Nations children to thrive at kindergarten: Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative
SDRF enabler 1: Prioritise culture
SDRF enabler 2: Address racism and promote cultural safety
In 2025, the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) became Victoria’s first ACCO-led Early Years Manager (EYM). EYMs provide professional leadership and centralised management of high-quality, inclusive kindergarten services.
BADAC has over 40 years’ experience working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, providing early childhood, health, social, welfare and community development programs across the Central Highlands region of Victoria. Long daycare and kindergarten are provided within a holistic program that also includes wrap around services, such as maternal and child health services and Koorie family services. These culturally aware supports for children and their families promote service engagement, empower self-determination and enable connection to culture and identity.
Becoming an EYM has given BADAC increased capacity to deliver high-quality early learning services. BADAC operates three early learning services that deliver culturally welcoming and nurturing educational services, including the Perridak Burron Early Learning Centre in Brown Hill, the Yirram Burron Early Learning Centre in Sebastopol, and the Yaluk Burron Early Learning Centre in Ballan. In 2026, BADAC is opening a new kindergarten at Gordon Primary School, making BADAC the first ACCO appointed to deliver a kindergarten on a school site.
Measure 4.1.3 Proportion of children vulnerable on one or more domain on the Australian Early Development Census
What does the data say?
In 2024, 41.3 per cent of Aboriginal children were assessed as vulnerable on one or more domain on the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). AEDC results can help identify and monitor trends in how children in Australia develop by the time they begin their first year of full-time school. It highlights what is working well and what needs to be addressed to better support children and their families. The regular collection of AEDC data enables governments, educators, researchers, and communities to better support the wellbeing of children and families.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Results for Aboriginal children have not improved since the last AEDC in 2021, which assessed 41.3 per cent of Aboriginal children as vulnerable. Results have also not improved largely since 2009, when 42.4 per cent of Aboriginal children were assessed as vulnerable.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024, 22.3 per cent of all Victorian children were assessed as vulnerable. This has increased since 2021 (19.9 per cent) and 2009 (20.3 per cent). This means that while results for Aboriginal children remain consistent, the results for all Victorian children are getting worse. When comparing the two populations, Aboriginal children are 1.9 times more likely to be assessed as vulnerable.
Goal 4 – Victorian Government Investment and Action
The Victorian Government is driving action through Marrung: Aboriginal Education Plan 2016-2026 (Marrung) and the Best Start, Best Life reform to ensure that all Aboriginal Victorians achieve their learning aspirations. The key Aboriginal Governance Forum for realising outcomes in this Domain is the Marrung Central Governance Committee.
Pre-prep
From 2026, 4-year-old First Nations children can access more hours of Pre-Prep (up to 25 hours a week). This will increase to up to 30 hours in 2028.
Initiatives include funding for ACCOs to deliver 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten as well as work with early childhood services to improve cultural safety and inclusion. Koorie Kids Shine (KKS), launched in 2015, continues to promote and communicate the benefits of kindergarten for First Nations children in ways that resonate with their families and the broader First Nations community.
Initiatives such as bupup balak wayipungang (formerly Koorie Preschool Assistants) and Balert Gerrbik: Koorie Families as First Educators continue to support a strong foundation to early childhood learning and wellbeing for First Nations children.
The Early Childhood Language Program provides funding for participating early childhood services to deliver part of their 4-year-old kindergarten program in a language other than English, including First Nations languages. Six Aboriginal languages are currently being taught through this program, in the following locations:
- Berrimba Child Care (Njernda Aboriginal Corporation)
- Dala Yooro (Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative Limited)
- Barmah Outreach Kindergarten, Dederang Primary School Care
- Eastwood Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten
- Harrietville Bush Kinder
- Little Beacons Learning Centre
- Lulla's Children and Family Centre (Lulla's Children and Family Centre Aboriginal Corporation)
- Mortlake & District Kindergarten
- Port Fairy Community Services Centre
- Yappera Childrens Centre (Yappera Childrens Service Co-operative Limited)
Training
First Peoples-led Early Childhood Education & Care training
Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated were successful in entering the Skills First program through the offer of a 2025 VET Funding Contract. This increases funded opportunities for First Peoples-led Early Childhood Education & Care training.
Bubup William’s addition to the Skills First program means that all members of the Victorian VET Alliance are now funded under the program, with the other two members being the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd
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