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Children

Children matter in Victoria. It’s a great place to learn and grow.

On this page

Services to support children

We are bringing together services for the development, safety, education, and wellbeing of all young Victorians, from birth to age 12, and their families.

Working with families, community organisations, early childhood education and care, schools, and health care, together we support children to thrive.

All Victorian families can access free public services including maternity, maternal and child health and early years services, kindergarten programs and school.

These services can also help connect families to additional supports where required.

Early years

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Maternity and newborn services – Prenatal, maternity and newborn services are free at Victorian public hospitals for anyone with a Medicare card.

The Koori Maternity Service program gives access to flexible, holistic, culturally safe maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women or women having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and their families during pregnancy.

Maternal and Child Health Services (MCH) – This is a free universal primary health service available for all Victorian families with children from birth to school age.

Enhanced MCH Program – The Enhanced MCH program offers flexible actions and interventions to families who would benefit from targeted support.

Aboriginal MCH – The Aboriginal MCH service helps offer better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families by offering them the choice of accessing MCH services at their local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.

Maternal and Child Health Line – Call 13 22 29. The confidential Maternal and Child Health Line can give you information and advice about the care and health of your child (from birth to school age). The Line is staffed by Maternal and Child Health Nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There is a translating and interpreting service available, 24 hours, 7 days a week, for callers who speak other languages. For translations and interpreting, call 131 450.

Baby Bundle – The Victorian government gives first-time parents and carers a bundle of nursery essentials containing key parenting information and resources to support the health, development and wellbeing of their babies.

Choosing childcare guide – This is an online guide with step-by-step information on how to choose a childcare service and enrol your child in Victoria.

Free Kinder – Free Kinder is available for 3 and 4-year-old children in Victoria at participating services. It is available at sessional (standalone) and long day care (childcare) services.

Three-Year-Old Kinder – The roll out of free Three-Year-Old Kindergarten continues, with programs increasing to 15 hours a week across the state by 2029 – providing Victorian children with 2 years of quality kindergarten before school.

Four-Year-Old Kinder (transitioning to Pre-Prep) – Four-Year-Old Kinder is a play-based learning program in the year before school. It is available for 15 hours a week for children in Victoria in both standalone and long day care services.

Four-Year-Old Kinder is gradually transitioning to Pre-Prep, a 30-hour a week program.

Find a Kinder – The Find a Kinder interactive map helps families to locate Victorian government funded and approved kindergarten programs at standalone and long day care services across the state.

Kinder Kits – A Kinder Kit is an activity box with books, educational toys and activities made especially for 3-year-olds to learn through play at home.

Kinder Kits are free for children enrolled in funded Three-Year-Old Kinder.

Koori Maternity Services – Koori Maternity Services offer flexible, inclusive, culturally appropriate pregnancy and postnatal care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Early Parenting Centres – Early parenting centres give specialist support for Victorian families with children 0–4 years old.

Supported Playgroups and Koorie Supported Playgroups – Supported Playgroups are a free program for families that need additional support with children from birth to school age.

Koorie Supported Playgroups are a targeted service for families experiencing disadvantage to improve the learning, development, and wellbeing outcomes of children from birth until they start primary school.

Nursery Equipment Program – The Nursery Equipment Program give safe nursery equipment to families that need additional support. The program is open to all clients of the MCH service who meet the eligibility criteria. Your MCH nurse will let you know if you are eligible.

Early Start Kindergarten – Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children with 15 hours of free kindergarten each week for 2 years before starting school. To be eligible, children must be from a refugee or asylum seeker background, identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or the family have had contact with child protection.

Koorie Kids Shine – Koorie Kids Shine promotes the value of kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Aboriginal families can access 15 hours per week of free or low-cost kindergarten through the Early Start Kindergarten grant.

Access to Early Learning – Access to Early Learning is an early intervention program for vulnerable 3-year-old children from families with complex needs. Facilitators help families to connect with a quality kindergarten program. Facilitators work with teachers to meet the needs of children and families. They also work with parents to build their ability to support children’s learning at home.

Kinders at schools – As part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Victorian government is building hundreds of kinders at schools across the state. Every new primary school will also have a kinder – making life simpler for families.

Early learning and childcare centres – As part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Victorian government is building 50 new early learning and childcare centres across Victoria.

These will be government owned and run, offering childcare and Three and Four-Year-Old Kinder programs, gradually transitioning to Pre-Prep.

Community Language Schools – Community Language Schools offer language programs to school-aged and preschool-aged children, after school or on weekends. Visit the website to find a list of funded accredited schools.

Primary school

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Active Schools Program – The Active Schools Program allows all Victorian students to have the skills, confidence and motivation to be active in life. The initiative builds on existing programs and funding to boost support and resources for schools.

Swimming in schools – The Swimming in Schools initiative offers funding to schools to support the delivery of quality swimming and water safety education to Victorian government primary, specialist and English Language Schools and Catholic primary schools.

Safe Schools – Safe Schools supports Victorian schools to create safe and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students by offering professional development and resources to school staff.

Find my School – Search for nearby Victorian government schools in categories such as primary, secondary, or specialist school.

Prep bags – Each Prep student starting at a Victorian government school receives a Prep bag to celebrate this milestone in their education journey.

Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Workforces – The Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Workforce supports schools to meet engagement, wellbeing, inclusion and learning needs of students.

This includes Student Support Services (psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and behaviour analysts), primary and secondary school nurses, visiting teachers, and Koorie engagement support officers.

Disability Inclusion – Disability Inclusion is part of the Victorian government’s approach to inclusive education.

It gives extra support for students with disability in Victorian government schools.

Mental health and wellbeing leaders – By 2026, every Victorian government and low-fee non-government primary school will be able to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to wellbeing.

Smile Squad – Smile Squad visits schools and offers free dental services to all Victorian government primary, secondary and specialist schools. Smile Squad helps students stay engaged in school and ready to learn.

Free sanitary pads and tampons in all Victorian government schools – Victoria is the first state or territory in Australia to make sure every government school student has access to free sanitary products.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund – The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend school camps, excursions, and sports and outdoor education programs. The fund is available to students in government and non-government schools.

State Schools’ Relief – State Schools’ Relief is an organisation that helps children stay in education. They offer practical and confidential support for thousands of families in need and work with all government schools to make sure that students facing hardship and/or crisis situations have the necessary items they require for school.

Breakfast Clubs – Breakfast Clubs gives students at participating Victorian government schools a nutritious breakfast, allowing them to engage and participate fully in all the educational and social opportunities that school offers. This program is expanding and will be available to all government schools from July 2025.

Glasses for Kids – Provides free vision screening and, if needed, further testing and free glasses to participating Prep to Year 3 students. Glasses for Kids targets school communities in Victoria based on areas of disadvantage.

Tutor Learning Initiative – The Tutor Learning Initiative offers targeted small group learning support in literacy and numeracy to students in government and non-government schools.

Early Help Family Services – Early Help practitioners deliver evidence-based parenting supports to families with emerging challenges. Eligible families will be provided with practitioner support through their school, early childhood education or care service, or health, community or Maternal Child Health service.

Travel Pass – This program gives free 30-day Travel Passes to Victorian students who are experiencing crisis to ensure they can continue to attend school by using public transport. The program includes caregivers of eligible students, ensuring that they can accompany a student on their journey if needed.

High Intensity Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) – The High Intensity Outside Schools Hours Care initiative supports children and young people with disabilities to access appropriate services for free.

Community Language Schools – Community Language Schools offer language programs to school-aged and preschool-aged children, after school or on weekends. Visit the website to find a list of funded accredited schools.

Student Excellence Program – The Student Excellence Program delivers a range of initiatives to support Victorian government schools to offer a great learning environment and build teacher capability to support and extend high-ability students.

LOOKOUT learning for students at risk – LOOKOUT Education Support Centres boost the capability of early childhood services, schools, carers, child protection practitioners and out-of-home care services to improve educational outcomes for children and young people living in out-of-home care.

Interpreting and translating services – Interpreting and translating services support parents and carers from non-English speaking backgrounds. Teachers can use these services to support children and young people enrolled in Victorian government schools.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) – Newly arrived EAL learners can access an intensive full-time program or targeted support to help them in the initial stages of learning English.

Additional support for all families

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Parent Support in Victoria – this website lists essential services, programs and help to Victorians throughout their parenting journey.

Hospitals in Victoria – Public hospitals in Victoria are free for anyone with a Medicare card.

Concessions and benefits – To make essential services more affordable for low-income households and to help with bills in times of hardship.

Kids Helpline – free confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Nurse on Call – Nurse-on-call offers immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1300 60 60 24.

Better Health Channel – Information about health conditions, health services or tips for healthy living.

Raising Children Network – The site offers ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts.

Local councils – Find information about Victoria’s 79 councils.

Councils invest in community activities to increase connection and create learning opportunities for children and their parents. Services can include childcare, playgroups, toy libraries, kindergarten programs and neighbourhood and community houses.

Children’s Health and Wellbeing Locals – free health and wellbeing support for children aged 0 to 11 and their families and carers.

Community Health Centres – Community health centres operate across Victoria. They offer a range of community health services to local residents, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention and management. Services include child health services and family planning.

Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC) – support, care and parenting education services for Victorian families with children aged 0 to 4. Call 03 9549 2777.

Relationships Australia – provide a range of family and relationship support services. Including specialised services to support children, young people and their families at different stages of their lives.

Regional Parenting services – Regional Parenting is a free service that offers support to parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years to help gain skills and confidence to support your child’s development.

Strengthening Parent Support Program – The Strengthening Parent Support Program is for parents and carers with a child from birth to 18 years with a disability or developmental delay. This free program assists parents connect with other families and the local community.

The Orange Door – The Orange Door offers help for people experiencing family violence and assistance with the care and wellbeing of children and young people, including support for parents.

Family Violence support services – Whatever your situation, if you or someone you know needs help, there is a wide range of family violence support services available. Visit the website for a full list of services and contact details.

Victorian Child Protection Service – Specifically targeted support to those children and young people at risk of harm or where families are unable to protect them.

You should make a report to Child Protection if you have formed a reasonable belief that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.

Booboop Narrkwarren Nagarra-jarra-noun (The Family Healing Centre) – the Centre is designed to support children between 0 to 11 years of age, their families and care systems to connect or reconnect with one another, and with their communities following challenging life experiences.

Headspace – access early intervention mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25 and their families. Call 1800 650 890.

Beyond Blue – provides access to support and resources to improve mental health. The Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling. Call 1300 22 4636.

Emerging Minds – access mental health support for infants, children, adolescents and their families.

Lifeline – providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14.

Education & trainingParents & carers

Updated 12 September 2025

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