East Gippsland Kindergarten Central Registration Service
East Gippsland's Centralised Registration Service (CRS) uses Department of Education Priority of Access guidelines to place children in a fair, inclusive and transparent way into kindergarten services.
The CRS provides a single point for families to register for all participating kindergartens, which means families only need to complete one registration form to apply for multiple kindergarten programs within the East Gippsland Shire.
The following kindergartens are currently participating:
- Buchan Uniting Early Learning
- Cubby Care Early Learning Centre, Bairnsdale
- High Country Uniting Early Learning
- Swan Reach & District Kindergarten
- Bruthen Uniting Early Learning
- Eastwood Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten
- Paynesville Uniting Kindergarten
- Swifts Creek Uniting Early Learning
- Cann River Kindergarten
- Lucknow Kindergarten
- Mallacoota Kindergarten
- Orbost Kindergarten
- Lakes Entrance Preschool
- Westdale Kindergarten
- Gippsland Lakes Community Health Children's Centre
- Lake Tyers Early Years Learning Centre
- Lakes Entrance Early Learning Centre
- Natures Playground, Paynesville
Kindergarten Pre-Registration Form
In the first instance, you can now fill in the Pre-Registration form. Please note, this is not a registration form.
You should complete the Pre- Registration form if your child is too young to start kindergarten however, you would like the East Gippsland Early Years team to contact you when it is time to begin.
The form can be used by services such as Child Protection or Maternal Child Health to register vulnerable children, to ensure the child's details are in the Central Registration Service and one of our Early Years team can contact the family to assist in registration. You can complete the form as soon as a child is born.
Registration will open from April 1, 2026.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is an important step for young children. Kindergarten improves children’s health and wellbeing, helps them to develop strong social skills and encourages a love of learning. Children who go to kindergarten are more independent and confident and are more likely to make a smooth move to primary school.
Kindergarten programs are delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. Qualified teachers support children’s learning and curiosity through experiences and activities, such as exploring the natural world, being exposed to new ideas and solving problems.
Playgroups
Playgroup provides parents and caregivers with the opportunity to meet new people, gain support and exchange parenting ideas. It caters for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Children engage in social experiences, craft activities and develop skills.
Playgroups are low cost and run by the parents or carers in them. Each parent or carer is responsible for the children they bring to playgroup.
For further information visit Playgroup Victoria
VicHealth Local Government Partnership Project
Children and young people leading healthier communities
We have partnered with VicHealth on a three-year project to strengthen the creation of a community where children and young people are able to grow up active, healthy and socially connected.
Out of the 16 fast-track local government areas included in the partnership, our approach will focus on a coordinated and collaborative approach dedicated to children young people’s health and wellbeing.
Communities in East Gippsland have faced traumatic drought and bushfire and are working to reconnect with those who have been hit hardest.
We will use a place-based approach to build on the strengths and networks in communities, with the ultimate aim of supporting children and young people to have a seat at the decision-making table to lead the planning and design of healthier communities.
For full details of this project, see our Youth page.
