Family & Children's Services News

Welcome to the Family and Children's Services news page. Keep up to date with what's going on in the Colac Otway Shire for families with young children.

 

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Services across the state are offering more hours of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten through Pre-Prep. This has rolled out in 18 local government areas (LGAs) since 2025. This year Pre-Prep has also launched statewide for children prioritised for early access.

Throughout April, May and June 2026, the Department of Education will host Pre-Prep and Koorie community pop-up events in locations where Pre-Prep is launching in 2027. These events will help families learn more about kindergarten programs and enrolment options.

Pop-ups will provide general information and direct families to speak to local services. Services play an important role in helping families understand how to access, enrol and participate in kindergarten programs, including Pre-Prep.

When: Sunday 31st May 2026

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Colac Memorial Square Playground, Colac

 

Intake for 2027 Kindergarten Enrolments for 3-year-old and 4-year-old are now on offer at early years services across Colac Otway.

It’s that time of the year again and early years services across Colac Otway Shire are opening enrolments for their 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs for 2027.

Whether it be in a standalone kindergarten setting or a kindergarten program within a long day care setting, services across Colac Otway Shire have something fabulous to offer.

Pop on to our website at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Family-children/Kindergartens where you will find a list of services that provide a kindergarten program that is right for you and your preschooler.

 

 

Colac Early Childhood Workforce - Working in the Early Childhood Sector

Colac Otway Shire is working in partnership with the Department of Education to inform the public about the benefits of working in the Early Childhood sector and to discover what incentives, scholarships and training possibilities there are to become involved.

If you are seeking employment in Early Childhood and would like to how you can be supported through these incentives, please contact the Department of Education at earlychildhood.improvement.barwon@education.vic.gov.au