Free Kindergarten Funding - Vic
Access up to 15hrs of Free Kinder Per Week Through the Victorian Government Program
What is Funded Kindergarten?
Free Kinder Victoria: Giving Every Child a Great Start
The Free Kinder Victoria program is revolutionising early childhood education by providing kindergarten funding to all 3- and 4-year-old children, ensuring that families can access high-quality learning opportunities at a reduced cost, and giving every child a chance to thrive.
The Victorian Government offers funding to provide families up to 15 hours of free kindergarten a week or 600 hours per year, in addition to the Australian Government Childcare Subsidy.
As of 2025 kinder funding is valued at $2,101 per year. The funding offsets the fees for eligible 3- and 4-year-old children that are part of the centre’s long day care kindergarten program.
With kinder funding available to children, this supports vital learning and development during the early years, building a strong foundation for a successful transition to school and beyond.
Who is Eligible for Funded Kindergarten?
Funded Kindergarten is for Everyone.
Families do not need a Health Care Card, Pension Card, Australian citizenship, or proof of address to access funded kindergarten in Victoria. You also do not need to be eligible for the childcare subsidy to receive up to 15 hours of free kinder per week.
You can only access Free Kinder at one service at a time. If your child attends multiple kindergarten services, you must let each service know where you want to receive kindergarten funding. We will ask you to sign a letter confirming where you will access Free Kinder in Victoria.
What Bayswater Childcare and Kinder Programs are Eligible for Kinder Funding?
At Bayswater Childcare and Kinder, our early learning programs are designed to give children the best start in life. Our 3 & 4 Years Old Kindergarten program are eligible for the Victorian Government’s kindergarten funding.
This means families in Victoria can access high-quality early education at a reduced cost through the funded kinder initiative. By enrolling in these programs, your child can benefit from engaging learning experiences that prepare them for a smooth transition into school.
How You Will Receive Payments
At Bayswater Childcare and Kinder, families do not directly receive the funded kindergarten payments. Instead, as part of the initiative, the Victorian Government provides kindergarten funding directly to us.
As a long day care service, we proudly offer kindergarten programs that align with the Kindergarten Funding Guidelines. The Free Kinder subsidy is automatically applied to the kindergarten portion of your fees, reducing the overall cost for your family. If you have any questions about how this is reflected in your billing, our friendly team is always here to assist.
What You Need to Do
Once you complete the enrolment process, our team will take care of all funding applications and manage payments directly with the government, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for you.
Kinder Funding FAQ’s
Yes, you can claim kinder funding for more than one child, provided they are both eligible. The government-funded kindergarten initiative in Victoria applies to each eligible child, so if you have more than one child attending kindergarten, you can claim the funding for both.
At Bayswater Childcare and Kinder, we are proud to offer funded kindergarten in Victoria as part of the government initiative, providing eligible children with up to 15 hours of free kinder each week for up to 40 weeks. This program ensures children receive a high-quality early learning experience, funded by the government. As a long day care service, Bayswater Childcare and Kinder allows families to seamlessly access these funded hours in an inclusive and supportive environment.
How Free Kinder Victoria Works at Bayswater Childcare and Kinder
- Fully Covered Kindy Hours: Bayswater Childcare and Kinder provides up to 15 hours of free kindy each week at no cost to families. This includes everything your child needs—meals, excursions, and activities are all included in our fees, ensuring a stress-free experience.
- Additional care: For families requiring care beyond the 15 hours of funded kindergarten, Bayswater Childcare and Kinder offers flexible options. Additional hours are charged at the standard daily rate, with the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) applied for eligible families to reduce costs.
Example Scenarios
- For a 9-hour session, 7.5 hours of the session are covered by free kinder, and the remaining 1.5 hours are billed as additional.
- For a 10-hour session, 7.5 hours are free, with 2.5 hours charged for additional care.
- For a 12-hour session, 7.5 hours of free kindergarten Victoria are included, and 4.5 hours are charged as additional care.
If your child attends more than two days or needs care beyond the funded hours, these additional days or hours will also be charged at the daily rate, with the CCS applied to eligible families.
In our program, missing a day typically does not impact the 15 hours of funded kinder provided by the government. However, if your child is enrolled for care beyond the funded kinder session, you may still be charged for the additional hours at the standard daily rate.
With the flexibility of Bayswater Childcare and Kinder’s long day care kindergarten services and the support of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), we ensure that families have access to high-quality early learning and care while managing their costs effectively.
Yes, incursions and excursions are included in the funding and the overall fees across our centres.
If your child attends more than one kindergarten service, government funding can only be applied to one service. Families must choose which service will receive the free kindergarten funding.
You'll need to pay out-of-pocket for any additional hours at a second service. If the second service is long day care, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) may help cover the extra costs.
Yes, your child can move to Bayswater Childcare and Kinder from a different service.
Yes, kindergarten is free in Victoria for eligible children through the Free Kinder program. The Victorian Government provides up to 15 hours of free three- and four-year-old kindergarten at participating services, including both sessional kindergartens and kindergarten programs in long daycare settings.
Funded kindergarten in Victoria has been available for many years, but significant expansions have been introduced recently:
- Four-Year-Old Kindergarten:
Government funding for four-year-old kindergarten has been in place for decades, supporting children with up to 15 hours of free or low-cost early education per week. - Three-Year-Old Kindergarten:
The Victorian Government began rolling out funding for three-year-old kindergarten in 2020. By 2022, all eligible three-year-olds will gain access to 15 hours of funded kindergarten each week as part of the state's commitment to early childhood education.
The Kinder Tick is a symbol used in Victoria to help families easily identify early childhood education services offering government-funded kindergarten programs. It ensures parents can feel confident that the service provides a high-quality, funded kindergarten program led by qualified teachers.
