Children in Tarneit and Manor Lakes will be able to go bush thanks to grants announced yesterday by the state government.
Davis Creek Primary School Kindergarten in Tarneit and
Sparrow Early Learning in Manor Lakes both received $6000 grants to offer bush kinder programs in 2024.
Bush kinder programs are delivered outdoors at places including parks, bushland and beaches –
giving children a unique opportunity and freedom to learn through play with natural materials in
outdoors.
The $6000 grants will help the kindergartens buy the equipment needed to run programs that
focus on getting outside, playing with natural materials, and learning through activities such as
climbing trees and watching wildlife.
The grants are part of $3.6 million in funding provided by the state government over four years to expand bush kinder programs at up to 600 kindergarten services across Victoria.
The 2024 expansion involves bush kinder programs being established in 52 local government areas, including 25 regional locations, while one-off grants will go to 150 kinders statewide, 100 of which are in Melbourne.
Tarneit MP Dylan Wright said that children starting kinder in his electorate were in for a treat.
“Bush kinder programs are not just fun and educational, they also help to keep kids active and
connect them with nature – boosting their health, wellbeing and development,” he said.
Applications for the 2025 round of another 150 bush kinder grants will open in the second half of
2024.
To find out which kindergartens are receiving a bush kinder grant, visit vic.gov.au/bush-kinder-
grants-program.
