As families begin to make choices about their child's education for 2023, the state government is encouraging every family to enrol their child into newly Free Kinder.

Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt last week announced the Free Kinder funding, which will enable increased access to quality childhood education and help slash the cost of living for families.

“We know families are struggling with the cost of living and free kinder will help make sure no child misses out on the vital years of early education,” Minister Stitt said.

The state government will provide Free Kinder in 2023 to approximately 140,000 eligible children.

All early childhood education and care providers that deliver a funded kindergarten program in Victoria will be eligible to receive Free Kinder funding from 2023, saving families up to $2500 per child, every year.

Free Kinder funding will be available in both standalone kindergarten and long day care settings for children enrolled in a funded kindergarten program.

A 15-hour per week program will be available to four-year-old children and a 5-to-15-hour program will be available to three-year-old children per week.

The government said it is also investing $9 billion over the next decade to transition Four-Year-Old Kindergarten to Pre-Prep with 30 hours of play-based learning by 2032 and build 50 government-owned childcare centres to ensure children thrive and women are supported to return to work.

An additional 5000 teachers and educators are needed over the decade to support this significant reform.

Enrolments for 2023 kinder are currently open. Find out more at vic.gov.au/kinder

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