Zoe Moffatt
Giving birth to a baby in the first week of a global pandemic lockdown was not how Jenn Varrasso thought her first pregnancy would go.
Four years on, with a second baby on the way, Jenn also didn’t think she would be bypassing a kinder just a five minute walk away, to drive 15 minutes to another one.
However, due to limited kindergarten availability, this is Jenn’s reality.
“We’re a little disappointed as we enrolled [Willow] in the kinder program for 2024 with Lancefield being our top preference, but we got accepted into Riddells Creek instead,” she said.
Jenn explained that they initially put Riddells Creek as their second preference when she was working in Sunbury, but with her baby boy coming in January this option is no longer possible.
“It would make a significant difference. If we could reduce down to one car, financially that would help us out with the cost of everything.
“Riddells Creek is probably a 15 minute drive, so a 30 minute round trip.
“It’s just harder, getting a newborn into the car and then if I have a caesarean, which I had with Willow, I won’t be able to drive.”
Born into a time of uncertainty, with lockdown rules changing weekly and social interaction at a standstill, Jenn said it is important Willow interacts with other chilldren instead of staying home.
“She was a COVID baby, so we don’t want her to miss out… with that social interaction.
“She’s doing really well at the moment but she’s definitely very attached to me. This year she’s blossomed and I don’t want to jeopardise that.”
Fellow Lancefield resident George Carter said she had to take her first child, Hendrix, to Romsey for kindergarten as they were not offered a spot in Lancefield, despite applying 12 months in advance.
“I was working full time at the time, starting work at 6am [and]… It didn’t factor into [my husband and my] day to pick up and drop off at Romsey,” she said
“My husband works nights at the juvenile justice centre in Malmsbury and more often than not he would come home from work to sleep for an hour or so [and] have to wake up to pick Hendrix up.
“I called council and explained the situation, and they said if someone dropped out that spot would go to the next child on the waiting list, but there were children in front of [mine].”
For her second child Mrs Carter took no chances and applied for a 2024 spot two years in advance.
She said she thinks kindergartens should be zoned and there may be a need for another one in Lancefield altogether.
“I think it should be zoned like a school, and I think there should be a priority where if you have a child there your second child should get prioritised.”
Macedon Ranges council director community Maria Weiss said council encourages families to nominate up to three kindergarten preferences and every attempt will be made to place the child at one of those centres.
“Kindergarten places are allocated on a priority system and specific criteria that is based on a combination of factors, including the child’s specific needs and family circumstances,” she said.
“Council is looking forward to the… new kindergarten and maternal and child health building in Lancefield next year, to help cater for increased demand.”
There are currently five children on the waiting list for four year old kindergarten in Lancefield, and two for three year old kindergarten.
Macedon and Romsey both have one on the waitlist for three year old kindergarten, but there are no other children on the waiting list for council managed kindergartens.
Nearby Brimbank council will undertake a review of its current kindergarten registration and enrolment policy following concerns from families unable to find kindergarten places close to their homes.
The review will consider including an additional criteria prior to the 2025 kindergarten allocation process which would require families to detail their proximity to their preferred kindergarten.
