Thousands of families preparing for the first day of school will receive a practical boost this year, with every Prep student in Victoria’s government system set to receive a free bundle of books and learning resources.
Education Minister Ben Carroll visited Gold Street Children’s Centre’s Keele Street Campus in Collingwood to hand out Prep Bags to children who are among the 52,400 students starting school across government primary, P–12, specialist and language schools.
The 2026 Prep Bags include five carefully selected picture books aimed at building early literacy and encouraging reading at home. Titles range from Diane Jackson Hill’s Chooks in Dinner Suits to Bob Graham’s The Concrete Garden, alongside works by Sean E Avery, Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson, Leanne Mulgo Watson and Annabelle Hale.
Each bag also includes a holder for the new Youth myki, designed to help families make use of free public transport for children under 18. Alongside the books, students will receive a jigsaw puzzle, an inclusive education poster with a colouring activity, and activity packs from AFL Schools and Cricket Victoria.
Families will also find a welcome message from the Education Minister, a toothbrushing chart from Oral Health Victoria, and literacy and numeracy activities developed by VicHealth. Additional materials highlight available cost-of-living supports, including free public transport and health screening for Prep students, as well as guidance on phonics, healthy lunchboxes and respectful behaviour in school communities.
Education Minister Ben Carroll visited Gold Street Children’s Centre’s Keele Street Campus in Collingwood to hand out Prep Bags to children who are among the 52,400 students starting school across government primary, P–12, specialist and language school
Accessibility has been built into the program, with students who are blind receiving the books in Braille, complete with tactile illustrations produced by the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
Since the program began in 2019, more than 2.2 million books have been distributed to Prep students across Victoria, easing access to quality reading materials for young learners.
Minister Carroll said the initiative was designed to support families at a time when many are feeling financial pressure. “We know parents are doing it tough – that’s why we’re making sure no young Victorian misses out on accessing high-quality books to kickstart their love of reading,” he said.
He added that the support extended beyond books alone. “By giving Preps free books and activities to support them as they start their school journey, we’re delivering practical cost-of-living relief that helps families from day one of school,” he said.
As classrooms prepare to welcome a new cohort of students, the program aims to ensure every child begins school with the same tools to learn, read and settle into the year ahead.
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