Frequently Asked Questions for families who have registered for Kindergarten and
Pre-kindergarten
Priority of Access
Priority of access points are allocated to each registration based on information provided
on your enrolment application.
Places are allocated according to priorities set out by Department of Education and
Training which includes:
 children who are at risk
 children with additional needs
 children who require a second year of four year old kindergarten.
Darebin City Council also has a priority of access system that uses the following additional
criteria:
 Darebin residents
 proximity to kindergarten
 siblings who attended the kindergarten of first preference within the past two years
If there are numerous registrations with the same points, applications are randomly
selected based on the available kindergarten places provided by the services.
Late Applications
Late applications are processed by the date of registration (when the Centralised Waiting
List Team receives them). They are not considered in round one but included with in the
round two process. If insufficient vacancies exist in round two, applications will remain on
the waiting list and processed as vacancies become available. Allocation of places is a
continuous process.
Allocation Process
Round one (approximately mid-July of each year for four year old kindergarten and midAugust for three year old pre-kindergarten) is allocated by computer generated randomly
selection of first preference only.
Unsuccessful applications in round one will go onto the waiting list with all other
applications and as places become available they will be computer generated, randomly
selected for round two. This process continues until all vacancies are filled.
Unsuccessful in Round One
The most common reason for not receiving your first preference is when a greater number
of applications were received for that centre than there are places available. Another
common reason is that many applications share the same points.
Declining an Offer
You may decline a place offered to you, but as it was one of your selected services this will
be counted as an offer and your application registration date will change to the date you
decline. The service that you have declined will be removed from your application and you
will not be offered another place until all other applications on the waiting list have been
offered a place.
Changing preferences
You are able to change your preferences in writing and only up until 30 June the year of
allocation, no changes can be made during allocation period (1 July to 30 September the
year of allocation).
Preferences can be changed via email to: [email protected] or in
writing to: PO Box 91 Preston 3072
Three year old pre-kindergarten – children must be three years of age before they
can attend
Your child must be three years of age before they can start; this may require you to pay
term 1 fees to secure the place regardless if your child is attending. You should make
contact with your preferred services to understand their policies.
Immunisation
By law, to finalise enrolment for your child in long day care, kindergarten, family day care or
occasional care you must provide the service with an immunisation status certificate that
shows your child is either, up to date with vaccinations for their age OR on a vaccine catchup schedule OR has a medical condition preventing them from being fully vaccinated.
More information is available from darebin.vic.gov.au/immunisation or
www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation