The City of Greater Geelong has a large number of excellent kindergartens located throughout the municipality, which aim to develop children's individual social, emotional, intellectual, physical and language abilities in the year prior to commencing primary school. Most kindergarten centres are managed by parent committees, which provide an opportunity for parents to become closely involved in the operation and development of your local kindergarten. Other kindergartens are operated or managed by schools, church organisations, and also provided through some childcare centres.
Kindergarten Programs:
Children enrolled in kindergarten participate in a variety of activities that reflect age appropriate interests and skills, extend their knowledge of themselves and others, and help them to understand their social environment. Children have the opportunity to be involved in creative activities, develop physical skills, increase independence and develop positive self-awareness and confidence.
How to Enrol:
Children are eligible to attend kindergarten if the child turns 4 years of age on or before 30th April in the year of attendance. Children under this age can often access additional services offered by local kindergartens, such as three-year-old groups, which are not funded and operate on a fee for service basis.
Enrolment at kindergarten can be arranged through the local kindergarten. There is generally high demand for available kindergarten places, which are limited for each kindergarten by operating regulations. Consequently kindergartens can have waiting lists well in advance (years) of the actual year of commencement.
In some instances a 'central' or coordinated enrolment system operates which provides parents with the option of nominating their preferred kindergarten. Enrolments are generally accepted on or after a child's second birthday. Each kindergarten develops their own enrolment policy, which reflects the needs of the kindergarten and local community. Enrolment requirements usually entail completion of an enrolment form, which requires all relevant details of the family and child concerned, along with any special needs or disabilities, health issues and immunisation history. Contact the kindergartens listed below for more details about their individual enrolment requirements and policies.
Fees and Charges:
Fees charged by individual kindergartens vary considerably and should be determined through inquiry at your local kindergarten. An additional preschool fee subsidy is paid by the Victorian Government to help reduce the cost of preschool for eligible families who have a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. Most kindergartens also conduct fund raising activities associated with their operation throughout the year to assist with operational costs and providing new resources and equipment for the children.
Staffing & Regulations:
Kindergarten programs are conducted by trained and experienced staff who have appropriate early childhood education qualifications. All Centres are registered with the Victorian Department of Human Services and comply with Children's Services Centres Regulations There are a range of stringent legislative guidelines that kindergartens are required to operate under, enforced by the Department of Human Services.
Children With Special Needs:
Children with additional needs can also attend preschools. Their attendance is supported by preschool field officers and other specialist supports that work with parents and kindergarten staff to develop appropriate programs that support and encourage participation. The Victorian State Government provides a Koori Early Childhood Program, which specifically assists children from aboriginal backgrounds to access kindergarten, and encourage kindergarten programs to be culturally relevant and inclusive.
For further information about kindergartens visit any of the following websites:
Geelong Kindergarten Association: www.gka.org.au
Tel: (03) 5222 6965
Kindergarten Parents Victoria: www.kpv.org.au
Tel: (03) 9489 3500 1300 730119
Department of Human Services: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/commcare
Tel: (03) 5226 4540
Kindergardens
Barwon Heads Preschool Inc. 5 Clifford Parade, BARWON HEADS 3227
Tel: 5254 2625
Alexander Thomson Kindergarten 48 Thomson Street, BELMONT 3216
Tel: 5243 1064
Belmont Community Kindergarten 44 Kidman Avenue, BELMONT 3216
Tel: 5243 4807 Fax: 5243 9054
Christian College Geelong Williams House Kindergarten, BELMONT 3216
Tel: 5241 3556 Fax: 5241 9927
Bell Park Kindergarten Barton Street, BELL PARK 3215
Tel: 5278 5295 Fax: 5278 5295
Bell Post Hill Kindergarten 58 Ernest Street, BELL POST HILL 3215
Tel: 5278 3817
Kardinia International College 205 Ballarat Road, BELL POST HILL 3215
Tel: 5278 9999 Fax: 5272 3183
Covenant College Creamery Road, BELL POST HILL 3221
Tel: 5278 5122 Fax: 5272 2254
Breakwater Preschool Centre 201 St Albans Road, EAST GEELONG 3219
Tel: 5221 2705 Fax: 5221 2705
Bond Street Kindergarten Bond Street, CHILLWELL 3220
Tel: 5221 5220
Clifton Springs Preschool 21 Central Road, CLIFTON SPRINGS 3222
Tel: 5251 3158
Beacon Point Preschool 49-55 Centaurus Avenue, CLIFTON SPRINGS 3222
Tel: 5253 1550 Fax: 5253 1550
Corio Kindergarten 152 Purnell Road, CORIO 3214
Tel: 5275 1629
Corio South/Norlane Kindergarten Vermont Avenue, CORIO SOUTH 3214
Tel: 5275 0768
William Hovell Preschool Centre 28 Hendy Street, CORIO 3214
Tel: 5275 4663 Fax: 5275 4663
Rosewall Preschool 36 Sharland Road, CORIO 3214
Tel: 5275 4529
Drysdale Preschool 13 Eversly Street, DRYSDALE 3222
Tel: 5253 1663
Normanby St Preschool Centre 53-55 Normanby St, EAST GEELONG 3219
Tel: 5222 2546
Thomson Kindergarten Godfrey Street, EAST GEELONG 3219
Tel: 5221 6922
Geelong West Kindergarten O'Connell Street, GEELONG WEST 3218
Tel: 5221 5980
Herne Hill Kindergarten 194-200 Church Street, GEELONG NORTH 3215
Tel: 5277 1843
Geelong Montessori Education Centre 2 Griffith Street, GROVEDALE 3216 Tel: 5245 7664
Greenville Preschool 58 Greenville Drive, GROVEDALE 3216
Tel: 5243 7812
Grovedale East Kindergarten 274 Torquary Road, GROVEDALE 3216
Tel: 5243 0057
Grovedale Kindergarten 83 Heyers Road, GROVEDALE 3216
Tel: 5241 5636 Fax: 5241 5634
St. Paul's Lutheran Kindergarten 301 Torquay Road, GROVEDALE 3216
Tel: 5243 8673
William Parker Memorial Kindergarten 33 Griffen St, HAMLYN HEIGHTS 3215
Tel: 5278 4875
Rix Street Kindergarten 49 Rix Street, HERNE HILL 3218
Tel: 5278 3384 Fax: 5278 3384
Bellevue Preschool Centre 224 Roslyn Road, HIGHTON 3216
Tel: 5243 7228
Highton Preschool 257 Roslyn Road, HIGHTON 3216
Tel: 5243 1135
St. Lukes Kindergarten 170 Barrabool Road, HIGHTON 3216
Tel: 5243 5562 Mob: 0408 560324
Flinders Kindergarten Inc 3 Kees Road, LARA 3212
Tel: 5282 2091 Fax: 5282 2091
Lara Kindergarten 5 Waverley Road, LARA 3212
Tel: 5282 1498
Lara Lake Community Preschool 1 Flinders Avenue, LARA 3212
Tel: 5282 2842
Allanvale Preschool 28 Allanvale Avenue, LEOPOLD 3224
Tel: 5250 2193 Fax: 5250 3658
Leopold Kindergarten 29 Kanimbla Avenue, LEOPOLD 3224
Tel: 5250 1477 Fax: 5250 1477
Kirralee Early Learning Centre 53 Richard Street, NEWCOMB 3219
Tel: 5248 1741 Fax: 5248 1741
St Albans Park Kindergarten
43-53 Homestead Drive, ST ALBANS PARK 3219
Tel: 5248 4539 Fax: 5248 0539
Fyans Park Kindergarten 204 West Fyans Street, NEWTOWN 3220
Tel: 5221 4630
St John's Lutheran School 33 Aberdeen Street, GEELONG 3220
Tel: 5221 5221 Fax: 5229 9400
Geelong College Early Learning Centre Preparatory School
399 Aberdeen Street, NEWTOWN 3220
Tel: 5226 8437 Fax: 5222 4707
Norlane West Kindergarten 39 Peacock Avenue, NORLANE WEST 3214
Tel: 5275 3774
Norlane/Northshore Kindergarten 11 Gerbera Avenue, NORLANE 3214
Tel: 5275 1443 Fax: 5275 1443
Ocean Grove Preschool 114 The Avenue, OCEAN GROVE 3226
Tel: 5255 1940
Woodlands Preschool 13 Wyatt Street, OCEAN GROVE 3226
Tel: 5255 2349 Fax: 5255 2349
Surfside Kindergarten 1-11 John Dory Drive, OCEAN GROVE 3226
Tel: 5256 1548
Portarlington Preschool 88 Newcombe Street, PORTARLINGTON 3223
Tel: 5259 2793
Apollo Drive Preschool 27 Apollo Place, WHITTINGTON 3219
Tel: 5248 1286
Whittington War Memorial Kindergarten
17 Townsend Rd, WHITTINGTON 3219
Tel: 5248 2358 Fax: 5248 2358
