From July 2021, Access to Early Learning (AEL) is expanding to an additional 16 new sites (covering 16 LGAs) across the State, and will be provided by Anglicare Victoria in the City of Greater Bendigo and Central Goldfields Shire.
AEL is an effective and targeted early intervention program funded by the Department of Education and Training (the Department) that enables three-year-old children from families with complex needs to fully participate in quality, universal early education and care.
AEL provides an experienced and degree-qualified facilitator to work with families, educators and services to ensure vulnerable children participate in early learning.
AEL provides children participating in the program with access to 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten per week, including in areas with funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. It is expected that children participating in AEL are enrolled for a minimum of 15 hours of kindergarten per week.
AEL is available in both long day care and sessional services where the kindergarten program is delivered by a qualified teacher. A child can be placed in a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program, a mixed age program or in a four-year-old program.
Factsheet-AEL-Information-for-ECECs