Is Kindergarten Free in Victoria in 2026?

Understanding 'Free Kinder' in Victoria

As you plan for your child's early education, you’ve likely heard the term 'Free Kinder'. It’s a wonderful initiative from the Victorian Government designed to make kindergarten more accessible for all families. But the word 'free' can sometimes cause confusion, so we want to help you understand exactly what it means for your family.

The 'Free Kinder' program provides government funding directly to early childhood services, like ours at Meraki. This funding is a subsidy that covers the cost of a 15-hour-per-week kindergarten program for three and four-year-old children. The goal is to remove the program fee, making it easier for every child to get the best start in life.

It’s not a payment made directly to you. Instead, your chosen service receives the funding and uses it to offset your fees. This ensures your child can access a high-quality, teacher-led kinder program without the program cost being a barrier.

What Does 'Free Kinder' Mean for 2026?

If you have a child starting kindergarten in 2026, you can feel confident that the program will be in place. The Victorian Government has committed to the 'Free Kinder' initiative as a long-term plan to support families and children across the state.

For children in a Four-Year-Old Kinder program, 2026 will be part of an exciting transition. The government is rolling out 'Pre-Prep', an ambitious reform to early childhood education. Starting in 2025, four-year-old kinder becomes a 15-hour-a-week program called Pre-Prep. This is planned to gradually increase to 30 hours a week by 2032.

So, for 2026, you can expect your four-year-old to receive 15 hours of funded kindergarten per week. This ensures your child benefits from a structured, play-based learning environment that builds a strong foundation for their school years ahead.

Kinder in Long Day Care vs. Sessional Kinder

Understanding where your child attends their kinder program is key to knowing how 'Free Kinder' will work for you. There are two main types of kindergarten: sessional kinder and kinder within a long day care setting.

A sessional kindergarten usually operates for specific hours on set days, often aligning with school terms. For example, your child might attend three days a week from 9am to 2pm. These services focus only on the kinder program. You would typically need to pack your child’s lunch and snacks, and if you need care outside of those hours, you’d have to organise it separately.

In contrast, a long day care centre like Meraki integrates the kindergarten program into a full day of care. At our centres in Bayswater and Mooroolbark, we are open from 6:30am to 6:30pm. This means your child participates in the fully funded, teacher-led kinder program while also benefiting from our full service. This is a popular choice for working parents who need more flexibility. The single drop-off and pick-up makes life much simpler. Plus, all meals are prepared by our on-site chef, and we provide nappies and other resources, all included in one daily fee.

How Does the Funding Work at a Centre Like Meraki?

It can feel a little confusing, but the funding is applied in simple steps. The most important thing to remember is that the 'Free Kinder' subsidy and the federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) work together to make care more affordable.

Here’s how it generally works in a long day care setting:

• Step 1: The 'Free Kinder' Subsidy is Applied. The government's 'Free Kinder' funding is applied directly to your fees. This covers the cost of the 15-hour kindergarten program delivered by our qualified teachers each week.
• Step 2: The Remaining Fee is Calculated. The remaining portion of your daily fee covers everything outside the 15-hour program. This includes all the 'wrap-around' care before and after the kinder session, care on days your child is not in kinder, nutritious meals prepared by our chef, nappies, and all our educational programs and resources.
• Step 3: The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is Applied. The federal government's Child Care Subsidy is then applied to that remaining fee. The amount of CCS you receive depends on your family's income, the hours you work or study, and the type of care you use.

This two-step funding model significantly reduces your final out-of-pocket cost. To find out what you might be eligible for, we always recommend getting an assessment from Services Australia. For any specific questions about your personal financial situation, it's best to speak with a tax adviser.

The Benefits of Our Integrated Kinder Program

Beyond the convenience, a kindergarten program within a long day care setting offers incredible benefits for your child's development. At Meraki, our kinder programs are led by Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers who are passionate about creating a nurturing and stimulating environment.

We follow a play-based philosophy, where learning happens through exploration, curiosity, and fun. Our teachers guide children through activities that build essential school-readiness skills. This includes social skills like sharing and cooperating, emotional regulation, and early literacy and numeracy concepts. We help children become confident and capable learners. The consistency of attending the same centre from a young age also helps children feel secure and builds strong relationships with educators and peers.

Our Three-Year-Old Kinder program is all about building social connections and learning through play, while our Four-Year-Old Kinder program focuses more on preparing children for the transition to primary school.

Enrolling in Our Kindergarten Programs

Kindergarten places fill up fast, so we always encourage families to plan ahead. If you are looking for a place for 2026, now is a great time to start exploring your options. We have two wonderful, family-run centres in Melbourne's east that are convenient for families living in Bayswater, Mooroolbark, Boronia, Wantirna, and the surrounding suburbs.

The first step is to book a tour. This is the best way to see our centre, meet our team, and get a feel for our warm and welcoming environment. During the tour, we can walk you through our rooms, outdoor spaces, and explain how our kinder program works day-to-day. We can also answer all your questions about enrolment and the fee structure.

Because demand is high, we manage a waitlist. Completing a waitlist application after your tour is the best way to secure a potential spot for your child. You can find more information about our centres and book a tour by visiting our contact page.

Planning for Your Child's Start

Choosing a kindergarten is a big decision, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. By starting early, you give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect fit for your child and your family. We are here to support you through the process and help you navigate the world of government funding and early childhood education. We look forward to showing you what makes Meraki a special place for children to learn, grow, and thrive.

Frequently asked questions

Book a tour of Meraki ELC

Want to see how we'd answer this for your family? Book a tour at our Mooroolbark or Bayswater centre — or use the contact form and we'll come back to you within one business day.