Early Learning Waiting List Procedure

In this policy/procedure, words in italic text are defined terms which have the specific meanings set out in Gowrie Victoria Policies and Procedures – Definitions and Abbreviations.

Purpose

This procedure sets out the sets out a fair, equitable and transparent processes for managing waiting lists and offering places for childcare and kindergarten at Gowrie Victoria’s services.

Scope

This procedure applies to all services except those which operate in areas where the local council administers a municipality-wide central registration system and waiting list for all non-commercial child care centres in their area. Families in council areas which have a central registration system and waiting list should contact their local city council for further information.

Procedure Statement

Applying for Inclusion on the waiting list

Applications from families to include a child on the waiting list for a service must be made online through our website.

Priority of access

Australian Department of Education Priority of Access Guidelines(Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 s143E)

When offering places at a service, Gowrie Victoria follows the Priority of Access Guidelines. These Guidelines apply to all child care providers approved for child care subsidy under the family assistance law

The priority areas are:

• Priority 1 – Children at risk of serious abuse or neglect, including children in Out-of- Home Care
• Priority 2 – A child of a sole parent who satisfies, or parents who both satisfy the activity test through paid employment
• Priority 3 – Any other child

Victorian Priority of Access Criteria for Kindergarten(Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 s143E)

The Victorian Government has priority of access criteria that applies only to funded kindergarten places.

This criteria requires services to give priority of access to children in the following order:

• children at risk of abuse or neglect, including in out-of-home-care
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
• asylum seeker or refugee children
• children eligible for the kindergarten fee subsidy
• children with additional needs, defined as children who:
• require additional assistance to fully participate in the kindergarten program
• require a combination of services which are individually planned
• have an identified specific disability or developmental delay

Further Priorities

After applying the Priority of Access Guidelines, preference is given sequentially to:

• children who are already enrolled in the same program and require additional days
• children of staff members
• siblings of children currently at the service who will be at the service when the sibling first attends
• children in families with other children previously enrolled at the service
• children in families living in the local community
• the date of application to be placed on the waiting list for a service

Where an enrolled child is classed as Priority 3 under the Priority of Access Guidelines, Gowrie Victoria can request the family of this child to change their day(s) if a child from another family with either Priority 1 or 2 access requires a place.

Updating the waiting list for each service

Families are responsible for updating their personal details and circumstances if they change after a child is accepted on the waiting list. Updates can be made in writing or on-line. The waiting list for each of Gowrie Victoria’s services will be updated no less frequently than annually. All families with children on the waiting list will be asked in writing (via email), whether they wish to remain on the waiting list. If no response is received within 7 days, the family’s child will be removed from the waiting list. Children will be automatically removed from the waiting list on their sixth birthday.

Offer and acceptance of places at a service

All offers of places for a child at a Gowrie Victoria service will be made to the child’s family in writing (via email). To take up an offer of a place the child’s family must accept the offer in writing (online or email) within two business days and must pay the bond amount requested in the written offer. If no response is received within two business days Gowrie Victoria will deem the family to have declined the offer, but the family’s child will remain on the waiting list for the service.

If a family declines an offer of a place at a service for their child, or if Gowrie Victoria deems the family has declined the offer, no further offer will be made to that family for a period of three calendar months. On enrolment, a child is automatically removed from the waiting list for a service. If after enrolment the family withdraws the child from the service, the family will need to reapply to have the child placed back on the waiting list. If the child is placed back on the waiting list, all previous priorities will be erased.

Authorisation

Approved by the Executive Manager, Early Learning

Name	Nicole Pilsworth
Signature
Date	31 August 2023

References