By Ethan Benedicto
The City of Casey has since endorsed the move to exempt some independent-run kindergartens from the $103 fee associated with the Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme for the financial year of 2024 to 2025, following the meeting on 16 July.
Furthermore, these kindergartens, specifically referred to as non-Early Year Managers (EYMs) will receive a 50 per cent reduction in the CRES contribution fee for the following financial year of 2025 to 2026.
Administrator Cameron Boardman acknowledged during the meeting that they received feedback that the fees would “create a significant financial hardship to [the non-EYMs] if that was to be implemented and introduced in full”.
For reference, Casey has managed the CRES since 2005 with the aim to help families apply their children for kindergarten in one, concentrated space compared to having multiple institutions have their separate registration process.
Currently, there are 55 kindergarten sites in the LGA that are using the council’s CRES program, with another due to commence later this year and another four set for 2025.
Of the 55, 49 are under council management with two sites proposed to be given back to the Department of Education; three managed by two EYMs, and three not-for-profit independent non-EYMs.
In April 2022 the council’s kindergarten model changed, which saw all kindergarten facilities managed by EYMs, and as part of this change, said EYMs which operated out of a council-owned building have since been required to use CRES and pay a contribution fee of $100 per enrollment in the financial year of 2023 to 2024, with annual CPI increase.
When this fee was introduced, there was no distinction between an EYM and a non-EYM kindergarten provider, which meant that the three non-EYMs had been participating in the CRES program since 2005 without having to pay a contribution fee in order to support the management of registrations and enrolments.
Since the non-EYMs have historically not had to pay the fees, imposing the new full amount could be financially disadvantageous to these non-EYMs’ abilities to be part of the CRES program.
For the 2023 kindergarten year, the three non-EYM providers have a total of 221 enrolments, which would mean that if they were not exempt from the council’s contribution fee, they would need to pay $22,100 towards the cost of the CRES program.
Casey Council, in turn, would receive $11,000 less income a year if the recommendation were to go through, something that chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM said is a “modest impost on the council’s budget to make this change”.
“The CRES is a very important part of the program, allowing families in the community the best access to local preschool services within their areas; I think it really is important that the council supports this,” she said.
With the council’s endorsement of the recommendation, this means that community-based non-EYM services can continue to have their registrations and enrolments managed by the CRES program, in turn supporting “equitable access to kindergarten services for families”.
