Free Kinder in Victoria: what it covers and what it doesn't
How Free Kinder funding works inside long day care, what it covers, and why some families still see a daily fee.
📋 Kindergarten, fees & subsidies · 6 min read
Key facts
- Free Kinder applies to funded three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten programs in Victoria.
- In long day care, funding is applied as a fee reduction rather than a cash payment to families.
- Kindergarten programs must be delivered by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.
What Free Kinder is
Free Kinder is a Victorian Government initiative that removes or reduces the cost of funded kindergarten programs. It applies to both three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten, and it applies whether the program is run at a standalone kinder or inside a long day care service like Meraki.
How it works inside long day care
In a standalone kinder, the funded hours are essentially the whole program, so families often pay nothing. In long day care, the funded kindergarten hours sit inside a longer day that also includes care before and after the program, meals, nappies and extended supervision.
The Free Kinder amount is applied as a reduction against your fees. The Child Care Subsidy is then applied to what remains, based on your family income and activity. Most families see a substantially reduced daily rate rather than a zero balance.
- Free Kinder reduces the cost of the funded kindergarten hours
- Child Care Subsidy applies to the remaining long day care hours
- Out-of-pocket costs depend on your income, activity level and days booked
Enrolment timing
Kindergarten places for the following year are typically confirmed in the second half of the preceding year. If your child turns three or four before the cut-off, speak to the centre early — a place in the room now does not automatically become a kindergarten place later unless it is booked.
Frequently asked questions
Is kindergarten really free in Victoria?+
Funded kindergarten programs are free or heavily subsidised. Inside long day care, Free Kinder reduces the cost of the kindergarten hours, while the rest of the day is covered by the Child Care Subsidy — so many families still have a small out-of-pocket amount.
Can my child do three-year-old and four-year-old kinder at the same centre?+
Yes. Both Meraki centres run funded three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten, so children can stay with the same educators and friends across both years.
Keep reading
Child Care Subsidy explained in plain English
Income test, activity test, hourly rate caps and how the subsidy reaches your invoice — without the Centrelink jargon.
School readiness: what it really means (and what it doesn't)
Independence, resilience and social skills matter more than reading. Here's the checklist teachers actually care about.
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