Latest News

Complete this 5 minute survey to have your say and give your service the chance to win an iPad! ​

https://surveys.kindergarten.vic.gov.au/

The Kindergarten IT Program would like to find out how we can improve the program for our service members. There are 8 questions covering technology needs, connectivity, service improvements and customer satisfaction. 

Your submission will enter your service in the prize draw for first prize, a 9th Generation 64GB WiFi iPad.

The survey will run from 17th of July to 4th of August 2023.​​

This survey is intended for employees and committee members of Victorian Early Childhood Education and Care services that make use of the Kindergarten IT Program. ​

​Survey Policy and prize draw Terms & Conditions. 

A new round of Building Blocks Grants – Improvement is now open for applications.

Increased funding is available in categories of Information Technology and Minor Infrastructure.

All the equipment options we supply are suitable for funding.
Refer to our new Hardware Quote Request section for current PC models and to request a quote.

Applications for Information Technology grants close on 30th of July 2023.

Free webinars from the eSafety Commissioner

The office of the eSafety Commissioner’s safety.gov.au website has great resources that you can introduce to your families to help them navigate online safety.

Throughout each term there are free webinars for parents and carers: Webinars for parents and carers | eSafety Commissioner.

If your staff and educators are seeking professional learning, there are also many resources for teachers: Professional learning program for teachers | eSafety Commissioner.

Department of Education and Training has released the June 2023 edition of the Early Childhood Update e-newsletter.

This edition focuses on Free Kinder 2024, the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge, surveys, resources and grants.

You can subscribe to receive the updates here: Early Childhood Update | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

Now available for enrolment

We are offering webinars of our courses on basic troubleshooting, website development, poster design and Excel.

The courses offered:

Practical IT Skills – 602

WordPress Website Development – 101

Making Creative Posters – 903

Beginners Excel Spreadsheets – 401

You can view the schedule and book a webinar session on our training page.

Access a series of free online professional learning modules from the eSafety Early Years program.

Developed by the e-Safety Commissioner and Early Childhood Australia the modules are available through Early Childhood Australia’s Learning Hub.

Modules on safely exploring, creating, working and sharing with technology are covered in a series of one-hour sessions.

For Directors and Managers, a two-hour module covers creating a safe online environment.

Learn more about the modules here: eSafety Early Years professional learning | eSafety Commissioner

Department of Education and Training has released the May 2023 edition of the Early Childhood Update e-newsletter.

This edition focuses on celebrating and supporting the sector with articles on coaching for returning educators, funding opportunities, a new Koorie Kids Shine video and the upcoming Education Week 2023.
Of particular importance to us in I.C.T. is the article for maintaining cyber security.

You can subscribe to receive the updates here: Early Childhood Update | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

We have been alerted to a scam targeting payroll and administration staff. This is how the scam happens:

After capturing the name of a legitimate staff member, the scammer sends an email in the staff member’s name to the workplace. Titled “New Banking Details” or similar, this email requests an update to the staff member’s banking details before the next payroll.

In the case we were alerted to, the ruse was discovered when the quick-thinking payroll officer opted to call and verify the request with the victim. Warning signs included the actual sending address was a gmail mailbox and the “To” field included both real and non-existent addresses that the scammer guessed at.

This was a form of ‘payment redirection scam’. If the scammer had been successful, the victim’s next wage payment would have been stolen.

Ensure your team is aware of this kind of targeted scam and devise your own verification practices. Consider a ‘staff authorised contact list’ which has staff phone and email. Then if you get any similar requests, you can more easily identify if it’s legitimate or not.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre has a lot of great resources to assist you to Recognise and report scams | Cyber.gov.au.

Or head to our Tip – Where to start with cyber security literacy – Kindergarten IT Program.

As always, if you receive an email you’re ever unsure about, our trained staff are always happy to advise on the legitimacy of any you’d like us to check.

Now available for enrolment

We are offering webinars of our courses on basic troubleshooting, website development, poster design and Excel.

The courses offered:

Practical IT Skills – 602

WordPress Website Development – 101

Making Creative Posters – 903

Beginners Excel Spreadsheets – 401

You can view the schedule and book a webinar session on our training page.

Department of Education and Training has released the March 2023 edition of the Early Childhood Update e-newsletter.

Kim Little, Deputy Secretary of Early Childhood Education, highlights Cultural Diversity Week and consultation opportunities for the Best Start, Best Life reforms.  Articles also cover support and resources for CALD families; teacher and ESK funding and grants; as well as free interpreting services for funded services.

You can subscribe to receive the updates here: Early Childhood Update | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

Have you ever heard the expression Explain it to me like I am 5? It is a popular phrase because we often need guidance that is immediate and accessible, just like five years olds. Increasing your cyber security literacy doesn’t mean becoming an expert, it just means becoming familiar with the day-to-day patterns and knowing what the general precautions and risks are.

Browse to it on our Tips page or from this direct link: Tip – Where to start with cyber security literacy

The Victorian Government has introduced the Kinder Tick logo to help families find funded and approved kindergarten programs. Funded services are encouraged to display the Kinder Tick on email signatures, websites, media and anywhere that will help families identify approved programs.

This tip explains how to add the email signature banner in Outlook.

Browse to it on our Tips page or from this direct link: Tip – Add the Kindergarten Tick to your email signature