Kindergarten Inclusion Support (KIS)

Our KIS team promotes an inclusive environment in Kindergartens: one in which every child is valued for their contribution and strengths. The inclusion of all children can be enhanced by additional resources through the KIS program, including additional staffing, specialist consultancy, specialist training, minor building modifications and the Specialist Equipment Program (SEP).

Noah’s Ark is the auspice agency that coordinates the KIS program in the North-Western Victoria Region.

The region covers 9 Local Government Areas (LGAs):

• Buloke Shire  • Loddon Shire

•Campaspe Shire  • Macedon Ranges Shire

• Central Goldfields Shire  • Mount Alexander Shire

• Gannawarra Shire  • Rural City of Swan Hill

• City of Greater Bendigo

Additional Assistant Staffing

KIS-funded assistants work as part of the team delivering the kindergarten program to all children in the group. They should not work exclusively with the child identified in the KIS application. They also cannot be used to increase staff levels to meet licensing requirements.

Additional assistants take direction from the early childhood teacher. They share the everyday team responsibilities to make sure that all children can engage with the learning and development experiences provided within the kindergarten program.

Additional assistants should not supervise a child or a group of children without another educator employed by the kindergarten present. This is also relevant when running an indoor/outdoor program and in single early childhood teacher programs.

Specialist Consultancy

For early childhood educators to meet the individual needs of a child with a disability and high support needs or complex medical needs. This may include reasonable adjustments and modifications of the kindergarten program.

See the Specialist Consultancy fact sheet.

Specialist Training

This is provided by an approved training facilitator to educate the kindergarten team to meet the individual needs of a child living with a disability or complex medical needs.

Minor Building Modifications 

Such as ramps and grip rails to support the child’s attendance and participation.

Specialist Equipment Program (SEP)

Allows greater inclusion of children with significant disabilities to attend kindergarten through the SEP loan program at no cost to the kindergarten service. See more information on the Victorian Government website's Specialised Equipment Program (SEP).

Please read the KIS guidelines before starting your application:

• KIS Program Guidelines for the Disability and Complex Medical Needs streams

Eligibility Criteria

Kindergarten Program:

• is funded by the Victorian government
• demonstrates that the resources required to enhance the capacity of the kindergarten team are in addition to the existing resources available to the kindergarten service, to support the inclusion of an eligible child with a disability and ongoing high support needs

The Child:

• has a disability as defined by the Disability Act 2006 with ongoing high support needs or;
• is undergoing continuing assessment of a disability, as defined by the Disability Act 2006 with ongoing high support needs

Demonstrating that the child’s disability meets at least one of the following:

• they are at significant risk of serious injury to self or others and/or;
• they are extremely restricted in their capacity for movement and/or;
• they have exceptional support needs that require immediate medical intervention for life-threatening situations and
• the child is enrolled in a kindergarten program funded by the Department or;
• attends a kindergarten program delivered by a degree qualified early childhood educator and is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten funding.

Definition of Disability 

Disability in relation to a person means:

a. a sensory, physical or neurological impairment or acquired brain injury or any combination thereof, which
     i) is, or is likely to be, permanent, and
     ii) causes a substantially reduced capacity in at least one of the areas of self-care, self- management, mobility or communication, and
     iii) requires significant ongoing or long term episodic support, and
     iv) is not related to ageing;
b. an intellectual disability; or
c. a developmental delay.

Definition of Developmental Delay

Developmental Delay means a delay in the development of a child under the age of 6 years which:
a. is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments; and
b. is manifested before the child attains the age of 6 years; and
c. results in substantial functional limitations in one or more of the following areas of major life activity
     i. self-care,
     ii. receptive and expressive language,
     iii. cognitive development,
     iv. motor development, and
d. reflects the child’s need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment or other services which are of extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

The KIS Program Application Service is operated by Australian Healthcare Associates, on behalf of the Victorian Department of Education.

Kindergartens can submit a KIS application by signing into the KIS portal and submitting an online application.

Additional resources to assist kindergartens to sign in to the portal and complete an online application can be found through the above link.

Contact the Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) KIS application support team on 1300 564 149 or [email protected] if you need assistance, or to discuss alternative submission arrangements.

• Factsheet: What's new in KIS
• Factsheet: The purpose of KIS
• Factsheet: How to set up a PSG
• Factsheet: How to apply for KIS
• Tips for completing KIS applications
• Application completion checklist

Contact Us

For all KIS application support enquiries please email: [email protected].

For all KIS additional assistant staffing enquiries please email:  [email protected].