Leading The Way in Training Ararat’s Early Childhood Educators 

Ararat Rural City Council is proud to celebrate the first of the Federation University Australia’s Ararat Best Start Workshop Series, marking the beginning of an innovative program supporting the roll-out of Pre-Prep in the Ararat region.

This workshop series was created to support and upskill the local Early Childhood Education (ECE) workforce, delivering high quality learning, professional support and community connections to these new pre-prep educators.

Ararat Rural City was one of the first local government areas to transition from 15 hours of 4-Year-Old Kindergarten to 30 hours of Pre-Prep in 2025, and Pre-Prep is part of the Free Kinder program.

Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Jo Armstrong, welcomed the new program, highlighting its role in creating lasting benefits for local families and the broader Ararat community.

“We’re pleased to see our region leading the way in early childhood education. This program delivers professional growth for our educators, and working with Federation University Australia, we’re making sure Ararat’s Pre-Prep educators have all the professional support and new expertise that they could want,” said Cr Armstrong.

This collaborative local effort reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to providing access to top-tier education and supporting the talent of those caring for Ararat’s youngest residents. This unique initiative will continue through mid-2026.

The program has been funded through the Victorian Department of Education's Innovation Grants Program.

For information on upcoming workshops or enrolment details, visit Federation University Australia or contact Ararat Rural City Council directly.