Register for kindergarten or accept an offer

2026 Key dates for kindergarten registration

From Monday 19 May 2025
All registered families for the upcoming 2026 kindergarten year will receive a reminder email to check their registration information, including contact details and the selection of kindergarten preferences (a minimum of three preferences are required).

Monday 30 June 2025
The final date Council can receive new registrations or changes to existing registrations from Cardinia Shire residents to be eligible for first-round offers.

From Monday 14 July 2025
First-round 3-year-old and 4-year-old 2026 kindergarten offers will be sent to residents.

During August 2025
Kindergarten service providers will manage the group preference process with families. At this stage, families placed during first-round will receive their group offer.

From Monday 1 September 2025
Second-round 3-year-old and 4-year-old 2026 kindergarten offers will be sent to residents.

During September 2025
Kindergarten service providers will manage the group preference process with families. At this stage, families placed during second-round will receive their group offer.

From Monday 13 October 2025
Third-round 3-year-old and 4-year-old 2026 kindergarten offers will be sent to residents and non-residents.

During November 2025
Kindergarten service providers will manage the group preference process with families. At this stage, families placed during third-round will receive their group offer.

Late registrations
3-year-old and 4-year-old registrations will be processed on an ongoing basis from mid-November (subject to availability).

If you do not live in Cardinia Shire - please read

Everyone is welcome to register for kindergarten at our Shire.

However: 

• You are not guaranteed a place at one of our kindergartens if you do not live in Cardinia Shire. 
• We will only start processing registrations of non-residents from mid-November. First-round offers will be sent to Cardinia Shire residents only, and we will continue to only send offers to our Shire's residents through to October.
• Even if your child is accepted into a 3-year-old kindergarten at Cardinia Shire, your child is not guaranteed a place at a 4-year-old kindergarten at Cardinia Shire.
• Please decide if you need to consider alternatives, such as arranging kindergarten with your local Council or at a long day-care program.

There are exceptions for children who qualify for the Early Start Kindergarten program. Please contact us to discuss.

Early Start Kindergarten program for eligible families

The Early Start Kindergarten program provides eligible children with priority access and up to 15 hours of free community kindergarten per week for 2 years before school.

To be eligible, your child must be 3 years old by 30 April in the year they'll start kindergarten, and;

• from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or
• your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
• your family has had contact with Child Protection services.

If you think you may be eligible for Early Start Kindergarten funding, please register online via the portal. For further information please contact the Central Registration Officer on 1300 787 624 or kindergartens@cardinia.vic.gov.au

Victorian Government website - Early Start information

Kindergarten fees

• It is now free to register your child for 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten via the Kindergarten Portal. 

Register for kindergarten or accept an offer

Our online kindergarten portal is the easiest way to register for kindergarten.

Use the portal to:

• register your child for kindergarten 
• respond to kindergarten offers
• view, access and update registration information
• change preferences (only before accepting an offer)
• change year of attendance
• withdraw or cancel registration

Important information - What you need to know before using the portal 

Your status will say 'Waitlisted' until an offer is made

See our important dates info about when offers are made.

You may have trouble logging in

If a large number of people are trying to use the portal at the same time. you might have trouble logging in. Please try again later. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Proof of birth needed if you're registering a child

You will need the following documentation to complete your registration

Proof of birth – This can be one of the following:   

• Birth Certificate or certified extract Newborn Child Declaration 
• Newborn Child Declaration
• Australian Government Documents that verify the child’s name and date of birth, such as passport, immunisation history statement (download from Medicare online account through myGov or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app)

Proof of residency (for Cardinia Shire residents only) – This can be one of the following: 

• Current rates notice 
• Current utility bill 
• Rental agreement 
• Valid drivers licence (please include image of back if change of name or address has occurred) 

AND ONLY IF APPLICABLE: 

Proof of Subsidy Card – This can be one of the following:  

• Commonwealth Health Care Card 
• Pensioners Concession Card 
• Veteran's Affair Card 

Proof of Visa – Must be one of the following: 

• Refugee visa (subclass 200) 
• In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201) 
• Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202) 
• Emergency Rescue visa (subclass 203) 
• Women at Risk visa (subclass 204) 
• Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449) 
• Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) 
• Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa (subclass 786) 
• Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) 
• Protection visa (subclass 866) 
• A Bridging visa and is in the process of applying for one of the above Refugee or Humanitarian visas 
• Current or expired ImmiCard 
• An approved exemption from the department

Register or accept an offer using the kindergarten portal

How placements are decided

There will always be enough kindergarten places across all the kindergartens in Cardinia Shire. We work with the kindergartens and the Victorian Government to make sure there are enough facilities and places to cater for demand.

If there is a high demand for first preference places at a particular service, priority is given as identified in the Kindergarten Funding Guide to:

• children attending four-year-old kindergarten for a 2nd year
• families who have had contact with child protection
• children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background
• children from families with asylum seeker and refugee visas
• children with additional needs
• children or families who hold a current Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans Affair Card.

Additional consideration is given to:

• Cardinia Shire residents and ratepayers
• families applying to their local community kindergarten
• children who have attended a particular service for 3-year-old and wish to remain at the same service for 4-year-old
• families with other siblings who have attended, or who have another connection to the kindergarten (such as a parent on the committee, or a parent who attended the kindergarten).

What happens after you accept an offer

• Offers are sent by email. Please accept your offer using the kindergarten portal
• After you've received a placement, please contact your kindergarten directly with any questions.  
• Once you've accepted the offer, the kindergarten provider will contact you with information about the enrolment process and orientation process.
• Your kindergarten provider will also ask you to provide your child's immunisation history statement

Immunisations before your child starts kindergarten

All parents/guardians planning to enrol their child at childcare or kindergarten in Victoria must provide the service with a current immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

The statement must show that the child is up to date with all vaccinations that are due for their age, or that they are able to receive. 

How to get your child's immunisation history statement 

It's sent to you: The statement is mailed to you after your child gets their final immunisation boosters at 4 years. 

Online: You can also get your immunisation history statement straight away using either:

• your Medicare online account through myGov
  the Express Plus Medicare mobile app

Request to have it mailed to you: You can also call the Australian Immunisation Register and ask them to send your immunisation history statement to you.

More information

• Australian Government - How to get an immunisation history statement

• Department of Health - No Jab, No Play

Benefits of our central registration process

• Simplifies the registration process for families
• Supports Kindergarten Service Providers
• Creates an equitable and fair process for kindergarten placement
• Helps to shape our early year’s services and infrastructure planning.

We engage Early Years Management Services and Committees of Management to deliver and manage education and care services on our behalf.

Questions?

Contact the Central Registration Officer
Ph: 1300 787 624
Email: kindergartens@cardinia.vic.gov.au