Brimbank council will undertake a review of its current kindergarten registration and enrolment policy to better understand local priorities for families when selecting a kindergarten program.
In a notice of motion raised by councillor Virginia Tachos, community concerns were raised regarding families being unable to find kindergarten places for their children that are close to their homes.
“In one case, mothers returning to work said they would need to drive up to 40 minutes in the morning traffic to get to a kindergarten,” Cr Tachos said.
The review will consider including an additional criteria prior to the 2025 kindergarten allocation process which would require families to detail their proximity to their preferred kindergarten.
Currently, Brimbank’s kindergarten registration policy does not include proximity as a criteria for priority access. However, the state government’s priority of access criteria allows for locally agreed criteria to be implemented to prioritise and determine the order of offers made.
Cr Tachos said that for a lot of families, it is important for them to send their children to local kindergartens as it builds a sense of community for them. She cited the Keilor area in particular, where concerns have been raised.
Keilor resident Lucia Mangion said she welcomed the decision for council to undertake the review.
“Zoning is great, kinder kids are more likely to know someone when they start school as schools are generally zoned,” she said.
“It also helps build a place of belonging and a sense of community. It eliminates unnecessary traffic and encourages a healthy lifestyle with less car time and more options to bike or walk.”
Cr Tachos said the state government’s announcement of free, three-year-old kindergarten, whilst positive, has also created a huge demand in some areas with a very limited pool of places.
