Allocation and Offer Process

What does 'allocation' mean?

When you register for kindergarten, Child & Family Support reviews all applications, and the system will place children into available spots in accordance with the Priority of Access Guidelines.

Kindergarten allocations run from July the year prior to attendance until the end of Term 3.

Round 1: For registrations received by 31 May. Offers are sent by the end of July.
Round 2: For registrations received by 31 July. Offers are sent by the end of August.
Round 3: For registrations received by 31 August. Offers are sent by the end of September.
Round 4 Onwards: For registrations received by the Friday before the allocation week. Offers are sent on a fortnightly basis, excluding school holidays.

We make sure the process is fair and equitable:

Registration date does not affect your priority. All registrations received by the cut-off date are considered.
Places are allocated using the Priority of Access Guidelines. For full details, see our Central Registration & Enrolment Scheme Policy or the Priority of Access Factsheet.
If your first preference isn’t available, the system will try to place your child in one of your other preferences.
If none of your preferences are available, your child will stay on the waitlist for the next allocation round.
The waitlist changes often, based on the Priority of Access Guidelines, how other families respond to their offers, and whether new registrations are received.

What does 'offer' mean?

When your child is allocated a place, you will receive an offer with information on which preference you received, and on how to respond. You can respond in two ways:

I want to accept an offer

Families can choose to ‘accept’ an offer that they have received if they are satisfied with the kindergarten service and group. When you receive your offer confirmation email, select this response and your child will be placed into that group immediately.

I want to decline an offer

If the offer received is not suitable for your circumstances, families can choose to ‘Decline’ an offer they have received and return to the waitlist for the next round. You can do this by selecting the appropriate response on your offer confirmation email. Once declined, you will be directed to a new form where you are required to nominate your new preferences for the following round.

Please Note: By declining your offer, there is no guarantee of receiving another offer, as it is based on the availability of groups selected as preferences and the children on the waitlist for those groups.

What happens after I accept an offer?

Once an offer has been accepted and your child is placed in a group, you will now expect to hear from the kindergarten service about how to enrol.

Each kindergarten service provider has their own enrolment form and orientation sessions to support families to start kindergarten. For more information about each kindergarten service provider, visit their website:

No Jab, No Play

Children must be up to date with their immunisations to attend kindergarten.

Proof of your child’s immunisation history must be included with your enrolment form.

Visit Better Health – No Jab No Play for more information.

Enrolment Record - Supporting Documentation

Birth Certificate or Proof of Age

You will be asked to provide a copy of a document verifying your child’s name and age. This is often your child’s birth certificate.

If you do not have your child’s birth certificate, you may be asked to provide another document, including a passport or visa documentation.

Immunisation History Statement

Children must be up to date with their immunisations to attend kindergarten, in accordance with the No Jab, No Play legislation. You will be asked for proof of your child’s immunisation history

The Public Health Amendment (No Jab No Play) Act 2015 states that kindergarten services cannot enrol a child unless the parent/guardian has provided documentation that shows the child:

is fully vaccinated for their age; or
is on a recognised catch-up schedule if their child had fallen behind with their vaccinations; or
has a medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Some families may have difficulties getting their child vaccinated or getting the documents needed to prove their child’s immunisation status. The 16-week support period gives these families time to access early childhood education and care services while receiving information and assistance to obtain the required immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), and/or get their child/children’s immunisations up to date.

During this 16-week period:

The child can attend the service
The family can get help to:
- access vaccination, and/or
- obtain an Immunisation history statement from the AIR.

Children whose parents have not provided evidence of their immunisation status or have provided evidence that states they are not up to date with their immunisations are eligible for the support period if they:

Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Are a refugee or asylum seeker
Are from multiple births of triplets or more
Hold or their parent holds a healthcare card
Have a parent who is a pension concession card holder
Are evacuated from their home due to an emergency (such as a flood or bushfire)
Are in the care of an adult who is not their parent due to exceptional circumstances (such as parental illness or incapacity)
Are in the care of a parent who is a Gold or White Department of Veterans' Affairs card holder
Are involved with child protection services, or have been in the past
Receive support through Family Services, or have in the past
Are living in crisis or emergency accommodation
Are being supported by a housing agency or family violence service

For more information, visit health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/no-jab-no-play.

Visa

You will be asked to provide a copy of a visa or card, if you or your child holds or have previously held one of the following:

Refugee visa (subclass 200)
In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201)
Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
Emergency Rescue visa (subclass 203)
Woman at risk visa (subclass 204)
Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449)
Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
Protection visa (subclass 866)
A Bridging visa, and is in the process of applying for one of the above Refugee or Humanitarian visas
Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)
Current or expired ImmiCard

Please provide these visas even if you are now an Australian citizen, as your child may be eligible to access additional supports or hours of kindergarten.

Concession Card

You will be asked to provide a copy of a concession card, if you or your child one of the following:

Commonwealth Health Care Card
Child Disability Health Care Card
Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Card

Health and Medical Information

You may be asked to provide health or medical information about your child, including whether they have a specific healthcare need.

If this is the case, you may be asked to provide a medical management plan, including NDIS plans or action plans for anaphlyaxis, asthma, allergies, or other medical conditions.

This is usually signed by a registered medical practitioner and outlines the steps to be taken in the event of an incident relating to that health care need, allergy, or condition.

Court Orders

If there are any court orders, parenting order, or parenting plans in place that name your child, you may be asked to provide a copy.