Wednesday 11 December 2024

The Allan Labor Government is helping 14 more kindergartens across Northern Victoria take kids outdoors to learn in nature with new funding doubling the number of bush kinder grants across the state.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced the new round of Bush Kinder grant recipients, a program designed to increase the amount of time children spend playing and learning in nature.

Bush kinder is run in parks, bushland and beaches, giving children the opportunity to explore and develop curiosities through activities such as climbing trees, playing with natural materials and watching wildlife. This year’s round includes:

• Pro Kidz (Benalla Rural City Council LGA)
• Community Kids Shepparton Early Education Centre
• Save the Children Kindergarten – Mooroopna
• Beechworth Community and Early Years Learning Centre Inc
• Nathalia and District Preschool
• Punt Road Kindergarten and Childcare Centre (Moira Shire)
• Euroa Kindergarten
• Avenel Early Childhood Service
• Wangaratta West Kindergarten
• Badger Creek Preschool
• Berrimba Child Care (Echuca)
• Kyabram Community and Learning Centre
• Generations Early Learning (Mildura Rural City)
• Mallee Minors Childcare Centre (Mildura Rural City)

One-off $6,000 grants help kindergartens buy the items and equipment they need to run programs. The Labor Government is investing $3.6 million over four years to expand bush kinder programs in up to 600 kinder services across Victoria.

The educational program builds on findings that regular outdoor play delivers significant benefits for a child’s learning and development, including their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Children who experience bush kinder develop greater confidence and capabilities while learning how to recognise and manage risks in new environments. They also gain a deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts in a hands-on way.

The Bush Kinder Grants Program funds kindergartens to establish or enhance a bush kinder program in a local natural space. Kindergartens without access to a suitable off-site location can use their grant funding to improve the biodiversity of their existing outdoor environment.

Funding in this round of grants is allowing bush kinder programs to be established at 43 regional kindergartens and 107 metropolitan kindergartens across 53 local government areas.

Visit vic.gov.au/bush-kinder-grants-program to find out which kinders will be starting a bush kinder program.

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“Programs like bush kinder are a fantastic way to connect our youngest learners with nature. These grants mean more local kindergartens in Northern Victoria can take learning outside, helping our kids grow in confidence and curiosity.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn

“We all want the best for our kids and teaching them about the great outdoors is good for their wellbeing, physical development and connection to nature.”

“Kids have so much to learn from regular bush, beach and park-based kinder programs, where each visit offers new opportunities to learn about and discover our great outdoors.”