The Allan Labor Government’s rollout of the Free Kinder program has put regional kindergartens in a difficult position, with data showing local families are dissatisfied with the level of care they are receiving.
Mitchell Shire and Greater Shepparton were both ranked in the bottom four LGAs across the state when it comes to parent satisfaction with their child’s kindergarten program, with both areas seeing a significant decrease in recent years.
The data was included as part of the 2022 Kindergarten Parent Opinion Survey and indicated that in addition to being some of the worst areas for parent satisfaction, this level of satisfaction had only gotten worse in recent years.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, whose electorate covers parts of both LGAs, criticised the Allan Labor Government’s lack of planning prior to announcing the program.
“Free Kinder is a great idea in theory, but unfortunately the Labor Government’s reckless rollout of the program is having a negative impact on our regional kindergartens,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Staff shortages across the sector have been amplified, and classes are now being combined to compensate for the lack of available teachers.
“This rushed rollout failed to consider the challenges regional providers face and families across our local communities are saying they are unhappy with the education their young children are receiving.”
Ms Cleeland said that in order to receive funding for the Free Kinder program, some providers within the electorate were forced into running mixed aged programs that has seen three and four-year-old kindergarten classes jammed together.
“Concerned parents have already reached out to me to say they are worried about how this will impact their child’s education and wellbeing,” Ms Cleeland said.
“These parents were not consulted, and the decision has been made suddenly and without time for the staff, parents, or children to prepare.”
Ms Cleeland said improving the availability, accessibility, and staffing issues of regional kindergartens all needed to be considered as a matter of priority to avoid further concerns from parents and staff.
“While we want to make kinder accessible for all, this is not the way to do it,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Unfortunately, with our regional kindergartens already struggling with staff shortages, a lack of facilities, and high demand, the kinder reforms have done nothing but add pressure to our local providers.
“The poorly executed kinder reforms are another example of Labor’s city-centric policy that has ignored the impact it will have on regional Victoria.”