Registering for Kindergarten

Registrations Open.

Registrations close for first round offers.

Second round registrations open.

First round offers sent to families - an email to accept/decline your place will be sent.

Third round registrations open.

Second round offers sent to families.

Registrations close for third round offers.

Third round offers sent to families.

Registrations continually accepted and places offered subject to availability.

Late applications will be accepted and processed in the order received, following the priority of access guidelines.

Please email kindergarten@mildura.vic.gov.au to make any changes to your application, including updating contact details.

Yes, your child will need to be immunised. You will not need to supply documentation at the time of registration; however, your kindergarten will request a copy during the enrolment process.

Under the ‘No Jab, No Play’ legislation that came into force on 1 January 2016, children are required to be fully vaccinated for their age before they can be enrolled in any kindergarten program.

Documentation is required by your child’s kindergarten confirming that your child is:

• fully vaccinated
• is on a catch-up program
• is unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.

For more information, visit No Jab No Play

Registrations open on 1 June each year. You can still register after this but registering in the first round is preferred to allow places to be allocated according to family preference. 

Yes. Registration information is kept in a safe and private database.

If you accept a kindergarten place, we will give the kindergarten your contact information. Kindergartens must also keep information safe and follow strict privacy laws.

Eligibility for a second year of funded 4-year-old kindergarten is subject to the child being assessed for learning and development delays and in consultation with the family. Assessment is made according to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) | vic.gov.au and when:

• Your child’s teacher has found they have developmental delays in at least 2 key areas of learning and development
• The child will achieve better outcomes at kindergarten than if they go to school.

Where a second year of kindergarten is being considered for a child, the assessment must be carried out by an early childhood teacher, but may also include input from other professionals, such as a preschool field officer, maternal and child health nurse, speech pathologist or occupational therapist. 

Registrations are not assessed in the order they are received. You can submit a registration form at any time during each registration round.

Once a round closes, all applications are reviewed together and assessed against the Department of Education’s Priority of Access Criteria, as well as locally agreed criteria. Council works closely with kindergarten services to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and families.

Priority of Access

Places are allocated based on the Priority of Access Criteria. All services participating in the Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) must ensure their registration and enrolment policies align with the Department of Education’s requirements.

Service providers recognise that some families face barriers to enrolling early. To support children who may be at risk of disadvantage, all services are required to have a Priority of Access policy in place to help ensure equitable access to kindergarten programs.

Learn more

• Department of Education – Priority of Access for Early Childhood Education
  Priority of Access for 2027 | vic.gov.au

Registrations open on 1 June, and during this period we receive approximately 1,000 registrations to review. We need to wait until registrations close at the end of July before placements can begin.

Once all registrations have been received, we assess applications and start allocating places based on the Priority of Access Guidelines. During this time, we also work closely with each kindergarten, including visiting services, to support class and group placements.

This is a detailed and careful process to ensure the best possible outcomes for all children and families. We appreciate your patience while this work is undertaken. 

You can view placement timelines for each round on this page under Key Dates.

When you accept a kindergarten place, we will give the kindergarten a copy of your registration information.

They contact you to enrol your child. The kindergarten will ask for more information about your child to help make kindergarten a safe and healthy environment for them to learn.

What happens if you don’t accept the kindergarten place?

You will be given the option to change your preferences or go back on the list to be allocated another place of preference, if one becomes available.

Is there a chance my child may not get their first preference or kindergarten of choice?

Yes. There will be occasions when a family does not get their first choice of kindergarten because more children are seeking a place at the kindergarten than places available. In these circumstances you will be given your 2nd or 3rd preference. If there are no places available, you will be given the option to look at another service or wait to see if a place becomes available in the next round.

Kinder is for everyone, regardless of your family situation.

Participating kindergartens can access Kinder funding, reducing or eliminating fees.

All of the standalone kindergartens accepting enrolments through Mildura Rural City Council are participating kindergartens - meaning sessions are provided at no cost to families.

If you are accessing subsidised Kinder at a long day care service, additional fees will apply. Please discuss this with your centre prior to enrolment.  

Please note, you can only receive subsidised Kinder at one service at a time.

You do not need to be eligible for Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to receive subsidised Kinder, however CCS eligibility will directly affect the fees you pay to the day care centre.

To find out more about the Best Start, Best Life Reforms, please click here The Best Start, Best Life reforms | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)

Yes, if you are continuing kindergarten, currently 3 year old (2 years before school) you will receive an email after the 1 June with the registration already pre-filled, families are requested  to enter their new preferences for the following year.

Once you have selected an LDC centre you will be given the option to nominate your preferred days. The kindergarten will then contact you to confirm availability and discuss session times and kindergarten arrangements.

Yes. Kindergarten is for all children, including those who are not yet toilet trained.