Access to Early Learning (AEL)

Service provider

Anglicare Victoria (AV)

Service provided

AEL is an effective, evidence based early intervention program funded by the Department of Education, which identifies three-year-old children from families with complex needs and supports their participation in quality, universal kindergarten by addressing barriers to their participation (i.e., system barriers, family barriers and interpersonal barriers).

AEL is distinguished primarily by its outreach service: a Facilitator visits each family weekly, building relationships with parents that encourage effective in-home learning and a child’s enrolment and sustained engagement in kindergarten.

The AEL Facilitator also fosters important connections and collaboration between the family, the kindergarten service and its educators, and other services to ensure the child is supported.

AEL also provides 15 hours per week of free or low-cost kindergarten to participating children.

Target population

Anglicare Victoria delivers AEL in Greater Bendigo and Central Goldfields regions.

Eligibility Criteria

AEL is only available to children who are or will be at least three years old by 30 April in the year they are enrolled to attend a kindergarten program.

To be eligible, referrals need to identify children from families with a minimum of two relevant characteristics:

• Known to Child Protection.
• Child or parent with an intellectual or physical disability.
• Family violence.
• Mental health issues.
• Sexual assault.
• Alcohol and drug abuse.

The families referred to AEL experience complex family circumstances meaning the Early Start Kindergarten grant alone would be insufficient to sustain attendance.

Referral pathway

Children can be referred by an Enhanced Maternal and Child Health service, Family Services, The Orange Door, Child Protection or Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) services.

Contact Karen Walls (City of Greater Bendigo region) or Karen Harris (Central Goldfields region) to discuss how families can participate in AEL.

Specific contacts