Free Kinder and financial help

Key information

The Free Kinder initiative

As part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms, the State Government works to ensure access to two years of play-based educational programs for children before starting school.

Free Kindergarten is available to all funded kindergarten providers; however each provider has the choice to opt-in or out.

This means there may still be out-of-pocket costs if:

  • the service has chosen not to participate in Free Kinder
  • your child is enrolled in an Integrated kindergarten program through Long Day Care
  • your child is enrolled in a program that is longer than the maximum Free Kinder funded hours. In this instance, the service will charge fees to cover these longer hours however you can choose to attend for the free program only.

From 2026, kindergarten funding rates are being simplified for services. This means that eligible children will have greater access to free options in sessional services, regardless of whether the service is participating in Free Kinder.

You should contact the service directly to confirm your Free Kinder options (including any additional costs that may apply for your preferred timetables) before applying.

Costs of kindergarten

The government provides funding directly to the kindergarten providers to maintain low fees for families.

Each kindergarten provider sets their costs for delivering their programs which depends on the hours and activities offered. This is also dependent on whether the service offers sessional or integrated programs.

For more information on program types, visit starting kindergarten.

We encourage you to contact your preferred kindergartens for cost information.

Additional support available

Families may be eligible for additional financial assistance when accessing kindergarten programs.

Available support includes:

  • access to additional hours through Early Start Kindergarten and Pre-Prep programs
  • access to Free Kinder rates at sessional services, even if a service has not opted in to Free Kinder
  • Child Care Subsidy (CCS) or Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) when enrolling in integrated kindergarten programs through long day care.

For more information, visit:

Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)

Early Start Kindergarten is available in all kindergarten programs delivered by a qualified teacher. To be eligible, your child must be 3 by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten, and meet one of the following criteria: 

  • they are from a refugee or asylum seeker background
  • they are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander 
  • they have had contact with child protection.

ESK can help ensure you get the maximum amount of free kinder program hours possible each week for your child for 2 years.  Enrolling children through ESK ensures eligible children have priority of access, and services can receive additional funding and support such as school readiness funding (SRF). This funding may be used to support children’s inclusion and sustained attendance at kinder.

Children enrolled in ESK are also eligible for Pre-Prep (more hours of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten) the following year, no matter where they live in the state.

Sessional services (not participating in Free Kinder)

From 2026, the Department of Education is simplifying funding for sessional services.

This change supports eligible children to access Free Kinder program hours – even if the service has not opted in to Free Kinder. It replaces the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy.

Children are eligible if they:

  • identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
  • are from a refugee or asylum seeker background
  • have had contact with child protection
  • have support from Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) or Access to Early Learning (AEL) in their Three-Year-Old Kindergarten year
  • have or have a parent or guardian who has a Commonwealth concession card
  • are from a multiple birth (triplets or more).

You can contact the kindergarten provider directly to discuss your options before applying, or contact the Stonnington Central Registration Officer at centralregistration@stonnington.vic.gov.au or 03 8290 1690.

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