Shire calls on kinder funds

YARRA Ranges Council is calling on the Federal Government to commit to funding 15 hours of kindergarten in its May budget.
Council funds about $250,000 per year to maintain its 39 preschool facilities, providing direct service support to the 66 centres offering 15 hours of kindergarten to 1950 children across the municipality.
The Victoria Government funds preschool operational costs of 10 hours, while the Commonwealth funds the additional five hours.
The community provides a further 35 per cent to meet the government shortfall through parent fees and fund-raising.
The Federal Government funding commitment expires in December.
In February, the Productivity Commission released its report into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning which supports continued government investment in preschool programs.
The report recommends that federal funding for early childhood education and care should be combined and directed towards three priority areas, including the kindergarten universal access program.