VIC Govt Free Kinder Funding

Free Kinder is a Victorian Government initiative to ensure every child gets the best start for the best life. It provides free access to 2 years of high-quality kindergarten programs for all Victorian children. Eligible children will receive 15 hours ($2,050) of care (2-day minimum booking per week) across the school year.

What is Free Kinder funding?

The Victorian Government offers free kindergarten funding for eligible children to support their learning and development in the year before they start school.

This funding covers 15 hours of kindergarten per week, which can be used at any approved kindergarten program in Victoria. Our Kindergarten programs will receive funding directly from the Victorian Government, so your family is not out of pocket (and don’t have to claim the savings back). Shine Early Learning centres Brooklyn and St Albans both participate in the Free Kinder initiative.

The Free Kinder Funding program is designed to ensure all children to access the benefits of early learning and give them a strong foundation for a successful school experience.

An image of children in child care carlingford centre.

Who is eligible for Free Kinder?

Victorian children who turn 3 years old by 30th April 2024 are eligible for the 3 year old Free Kinder.
Victorian children who turn 4 years old by 30th April 2024 are eligible for the 4 year old Free Kinder.
Only one service can be nominated at a time.
Only one year each of the 3 year old and 4 year old Kinder funding can be claimed.
A minimum of 2 days enrolment is required.

How will I receive my Free Kinder payment?

Free Kinder offsets will be applied to accounts as monthly payments. In 2025, the saving is up to $2,101 per child and will be applied across 12 months.

Will Free Kinder be applied before or after CCS (Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy)?

To maximise the financial benefit for families, the Free Kinder offset to fees will be applied after CCS has been applied

In 2025, Shine Early Learning Brooklyn will offer several sessional kindergarten places for 3 and 4 year old children.

The centre will offer an integrated funded kindergarten program and sessional kindergarten program. Both kindergarten programs are planned and delivered by a qualified, Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) early childhood teacher and offer a play-based learning program (include any other additional information here).
Families can choose the program that best suits them and their child/ren. Please find details of each program below.

For children enrolled in the sessional kindergarten program:

Children enrolled in the sessional kindergarten program do not attract Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (CCS) or Additional Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (ACCS). Families with children enrolled in the sessional kindergarten service receive a free kindergarten program.

For both 3 year old and 4 year old children, this means a free kindergarten program of 15 hours each week (600 hours each year).

The sessional kindergarten program will operate during school terms, on these days and times:

Tuesday 9am-2pm
Wednesday 9am-2pm
Friday 9am-2pm

We will offer extra program hours for a fee and these hours are optional. If you don’t want extra hours beyond the funded kindergarten program, your child can still attend the 15-hour program free of charge.

Wrap-around care will be available for children enrolled in our Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten program.

Wrap-around care will be available Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays:

morning session 7am-9am ($20)
afternoon session 2pm-4pm ($20) or 2pm-6pm ($40)

CCS / ACCS will apply to wrap around care depending on your eligibility. Wrap around care must be booked prior to the commencement of each term (providing a minimum 2 weeks’ notice) and is available for the full term.

In addition to your child attending the sessional kinder program, long day care bookings can also be made to attend on Mondays and Thursdays. The daily fee rate will apply for these bookings and will include your entitled CCS / ACCS.

Outside of school terms, holiday bookings will be available Monday to Friday. The daily fee rate will apply for these bookings and will include your entitled CCS / ACCS.

For children enrolled in the long day care program:

Families with 3 and 4 year old children enrolled in our long day care program will receive a fee offset, currently this is a saving of up to $2,101 per child.
3 and 4 year old children will need to be enrolled in a 15 hour kindergarten program (600 hours a year).

More information:

If families are eligible for the Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (CCS) or Additional Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (ACCS), it will be applied first, which means families only need to pay the remaining amount after CCS / ACCS and the Free Kinder offset.

Free Kinder savings will be passed on to families as a reduction to any out-of-pocket fees.

For some families, Free Kinder will provide a free kindergarten program, and for others it means they will receive a significantly lower cost program. The cost for each family depends on the service fees, number of days attended, and the amount of Commonwealth subsidy each family receive.
3 year old and 4 year old children need to be enrolled in our kindergarten program for 15 hours per week (600 hours a year) to access Free Kinder.
Free Kinder is for everyone. You do not need to be an Australian citizen to be eligible to access Free Kinder. You also do not need to be eligible for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to receive Free Kinder.