Kindergarten Central Registration

Free kindergarten is part of the Victorian Government's $9 billion commitment to expand kindergarten programs across the state.

From 2023, free kindergarten will be available for all Victorian three- and four-year-old children at participating early childhood services, providing a saving of up to $2,500 for families, depending on the setting type.

• For three-year-olds, this means between 5 and 15 hours per week of a kindergarten program.
• For four-year-olds, this means 15 hours per week. 

For further information, visit:

Give your child the best start | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

Registration for three- and four-year-old kindergarten in Hobsons Bay can be lodged via the online parent portal called the Central Registration System (CRS). On the portal, you will be able to create your family profile and register your child(ren) from the age of one year for three-year-old kindergarten and from the age of two years for four-year-old kindergarten. CRS will also allow you to update your personal details and kindergarten preferences online at any time.

Alternatively, you can download a 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Registration Form(PDF, 915KB)  or 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Registration Form(PDF, 683KB).

Each registration requires a one-off, non-refundable fee of $23, which is made via a secure payment screen within the parent portal. This fee is waived for eligible card holders. Please see the Subsidy Cards and Immigration Visa list below for details to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver.

So that you have your paperwork ready when registering, you will need the following supporting documents:

• your child’s birth certificate or passport
• evidence of residency or rate payer (if applicable)
• evidence for Priority of Access criteria (if applicable).

If you have completed a paper registration form and you have the relevant supporting documentation attached, you can return the completed form to Council in person, by mail to Hobsons Bay City Council PO Box 21, Altona 3018, or by email to kindergarten@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.

Online Parent Portal (CRS)

3-year-old Kindergarten Registration Form(PDF, 915KB)

4-year-old Kindergarten Registration Form(PDF, 683KB)

2023 3 & 4yo Kindergarten - Brochure.pdf(PDF, 537KB)

3-and-4-year-old Kindergarten 2024 - Brochure(PDF, 680KB)

*Group times and days may change

The Victorian Government and Hobsons Bay City Council will be investing in a new contemporary facility at the Emma McLean Daycare Centre site to ensure there are sufficient kindergarten places for local families now and into the future.

Please see the below information sheet for families.

Emma McLean Flyer-Redevelopment.pdf(PDF, 214KB)

The Victorian Government and Hobsons Bay City Council will be investing in a new contemporary facility at the Seaholme Kindergarten site to ensure there are sufficient kindergarten places for local families now and into the future.

The service will continue to operate as usual, with the facility works expected to be undertaken in 2023. During this time, children and staff will be relocated to another licensed children’s facility in Altona managed by Early Childhood Management Services and will continue to provide the highest education and care program the service currently provides.

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Subsidy Cards

• Commonwealth Health Care Card

• Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card

• A Department of Veterans’ Affairs Card (gold or white card)

Immigration Visas

A list of visas can be found in the Early Start Kindergarten information.

Four-year-old kindergarten offers of placement are made by Council from July to October the year before your child starts kindergarten.

Three-year-old kindergarten offers of placement are made by Council from August to October the year before your child starts kindergarten.

There are a number of rounds of offers and these will be sent by email if you have provided an email address.

If you choose to accept an offer, you will be contacted by the kindergarten service about enrolment and orientation dates.

If you choose to decline an offer, you can change your preference and stay on the waitlist for an alternate offer.

To ensure fair and equitable access and to support all eligible children to participate in a kindergarten program, the Hobsons Bay Kindergarten Central Registration Scheme must use the Department of Education (DE) Priority of Access guidelines when offering kindergarten places.

Priority of Access gives vulnerable families priority at their preferred kindergarten wherever possible, regardless of their home address. Children who meet the local criteria will be given priority after the DE high priority children have been offered a kindergarten place. You can find more information about the 3-& 4-year-old Priority of Access criteria in the below documents.

3 Year Old Priority of Access(PDF, 345KB)

4 Year Old Priority of Access(PDF, 327KB)