November 11th, 2025Cracking down on kinder funding

The state government is holding kindergarten providers to account by making sure funding is used properly and children are getting the most out of learning.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn has launched the Kindergarten Audit and Assurance Program, a dedicated auditing program to detect and prevent misuse of public funds and build confidence in the early childhood sector.

Delivered in partnership with professional services firms EY and McGrathNicol, the program will assess how providers use kindergarten funding and School Readiness Funding, as well as check compliance in areas such as staffing, management and program delivery.

Providers found to be deliberately doing the wrong thing face decisive action which includes terminating funding or the return of funding. Services making genuine efforts and with only minor, accidental errors will receive targeted support to maintain compliance.

Audits will start immediately, and in the first year about 100 providers will be scrutinised, covering more than 400 early childhood services which receive around $100 million of Victorian kindergarten funding annually. Every year at least 10 per cent of services will be audited.

The Kindergarten Audit and Assurance Program will cover all types and sizes of providers, as well as both for-profit and not-for-profit.