Best Start, Best Life reforms (Pre-Prep/Priority Cohorts 2026/28) Information Session

VCOSS is hosting an online information session to provide an overview of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms, with a particular focus on Pre-Prep.

We know that participation in high-quality early childhood education is one of the most important ways to prevent and disrupt disadvantage.

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is transitioning to Pre-Prep, with programs across Victoria gradually increasing to between 16 and 30 hours of play-based learning per week, led by a qualified teacher.

From 2026 the following priority cohorts will be able to access 16 – 25 hours of Pre-Prep per week:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• Children from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds
• Children who have had contact with child protection services

From 2028 children from priority cohorts such as those with a Commonwealth concession card can access 16 – 25 hours and from 2036 all children across Victoria will have access to 30 hours of Pre-Prep.

This session will be hosted by VCOSS Director of Policy and Advocacy, Deb Fewster and will include representatives from the Department of Education’s Kindergarten Expansion and Pre-Prep Reform Division.

The Department will provide an overview of Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life reforms with a particular focus on the roll out of Pre-Prep and access for priority cohorts. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the reforms.

Auslan 

Due to high demand, Victoria is experience a shortage of Auslan interpreters. VCOSS strives to ensure our events are inclusive to everyone and will do our best to secure Auslan interpreters. To help us do this, if you require Auslan for this event, please RSVP as soon as possible so that we can work with Expression Australia to secure interpreters.



About the Victorian Council of Social Service
VCOSS is the peak representative body for Victoria’s social and community sector, and the state’s leading social advocacy organisation. We work towards creating a Victoria that is fair, just and inclusive. A society where nobody is trapped by poverty, and everybody is supported to live a life of wellbeing.

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