Priority of Access

High priority children

Criteria and processes for verifying need(s)

TIER 1

Children at risk of abuse or neglect, including children in out-of-home care (OoHC)

• The child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten or Access to Early Learning, and/or
• The family, carer or legal guardian identifies the child as known to or having had contact with Child Protection or in Out-of-Home Care and/or
• The parent or carer or child is experiencing family violence and/or has had contact with The Orange Door and/or
• The child or family has previously accessed Flexible Support Packages and/or
• The child or family is referred by one of the following:
  • Child Protection
  • Child and family services
  • Maternal and Child Health nurse (MCH)
  • Out of Home Care provider

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

As part of the enrolment process, service providers must respectfully ask families ‘Do you identify your child as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?’ and record this information in Arrival.

Asylum seeker and refugee children

• The child, a parent, a carer or a legal guardian holds, has previously held, or is applying for, a refugee or asylum seeker visa (see list of visas in the Kindergarten Funding Guide), or
• The child, a parent, a carer or a legal guardian holds a current or expired ImmiCard, or
• Children, parents, carers or legal guardians who previously held a refugee or asylum seeker visa and now hold Australian Citizenship or permanent residency.

Children and/or families holding concession cards

A child or parent holds a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Veterans’ Affairs Card.

Children from families with multiple births

Multiple birth children (i.e. triplets or quadruplets).

Children and/or families with additional needs who require additional assistance to fully participate in the kindergarten program

Child and family with additional needs who meet one of the following.

Child:

• is eligible under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or undergoing a continuing assessment of a disability under the NDIS (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
• is eligible for Early Childhood Intervention Service Continuity of Support (ECIS COS)
• is diagnosed with a disability or developmental delay or are undergoing diagnosis (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
• presents with developmental concerns that presents barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter or other evidence from a MCH nurse or similar practitioner such as an allied health practitioner)
• has complex medical needs that presents barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
• holds a Disability Health Care Card. OR

The child has previously accessed:

• the Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program, Commonwealth Inclusion Support Program or another similar program

Children accessing an additional year of Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep

Children assessed with delays in two or more areas and are identified as eligible for an additional year of funded Three-Year-Old kindergarten, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep.

TIER 2

Children currently attending the service

Children attending the service in the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program and seeking to access Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep at the same service for continuity of learning.

Priority should be given to these children to remain at the same service for their Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep year to ensure continuity of learning.

*Continuity at a service priority is not available for those applying and commencing after 30 June.