As part of what the state premiers have called as "the greatest chance of early education in a generation," Victoria and New South Wales will implement a new year of play-based learning for children before they start school. The programme, known as "pre-prep" in Victoria and "pre-kindergarten" in NSW, will consist of 30 hours of play-based learning each week for all four-year-olds.

The early education sector is struggling to find enough staff due to COVID, influenza and burnout. With services failing to achieve educator-to-child ratios due to colder weather, the relaxation of mask rules for staff, and an increase in colds and flu.

For Victoria Educators, if you hold a diploma in early childhood education, you can complete this specialised Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching in just two years, graduating ready to work as an early childhood teacher. The course complements our three-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, which caters to applicants without a diploma in the discipline.

Citipointe Childcare has been recently fined $18,000 for an incident that happened on 22nd April 2021 when a 21-month-old child went missing after a bushland excursion.

WorkSafe Victoria has developed guidance in accordance to DHHS guidelines and the OHS Act.

In Melbourne's northeast, a Kindergarten has closed after a teacher-tested positive to coronavirus.

The Learning Sanctuary in Yarraville in Melbourne's inner-west was closed on Wednesday after two children, from the same family, were tested for the coronavirus.