Kindy support to help Aboriginal kids thrive

The Victorian Government is to support more First Nations children to get the best start in life, establishing the first Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation as an Early Years Management authority.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn has announced that Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative will be the first to be registered, providing centralised support to kindergartens and helping teachers and educators focus on what matters most: giving children the best possible start to their education.

BADAC oversees kindergartens at Perridak Burron in Brown Hill, Yirram Burron in Sebastopol and Yaluk Burron in Ballan, supporting local families with strong and culturally inclusive early learning.

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative CEO Karen Heap her organisation was proud of the Early Years centres that we have established and the growth within the community over the past five years.

“Becoming the first ACCO EYM enables us to guide, support and inspire other ACCO’s across the state, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children are supported in Early Years Education,” she said.

Leading the way

As an Early Years Management organisation, BADAC will take care of the business, compliance and operational requirements of running kindy’s – giving staff the backing, training and career pathways they need, and freeing them up to focus on supporting children and families every day.

“Ballarat is leading the way in early learning, with BADAC showing how community-led education can make a real difference for families. This is about giving every First Nations child the best start in life, close to home,” Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said.

From 2026, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations like BADAC will receive more funding to deliver kindergartens their way thanks to an investment of $5.3 million that will support tailored, community-led approaches to early learning for around 350 children.

The number of First Nations children attending kindergarten continues to grow, with more than 3,700 enrolled in Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs in 2024 – the highest on record.