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 Aspire Programs are Eligible for Kinder Funding?
At Aspire, our early learning programs are designed to give children the best start in life. Our Kickstart to Kinder (3-year-old kindergarten) and Step into Prep (4-year-old kindergarten) programs 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 Aspire Early Education, 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.
Contact Us
Kinder Funding in Victoria
Kinder Funding is provided by the Victorian Government to reduce the cost of attending Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs.
This funding is paid directly to participating kindergartens or long day care centres offering government-funded kindergarten programs.
It applies to a maximum of 15 hours per week of free kindergarten.
Fees and Suppport
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Explained
The CCS is a Federal Government program that reduces the cost of child care for eligible families based on their income, activity level, and type of service used.
It is applied to fees charged by approved child care providers.
The CCS can cover hours beyond the Free Kinder Victoria program, depending on the family’s eligibility and the care hours used. Use or CCS calculator to estimate your out of pocket costs.
Childcare Subsidy Explained
Combining Kinder Funding and CCS
Kinder Funding and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can be used together in some circumstances. If your child attends an Aspire center:
- Kinder Funding: Covers the cost of the kindergarten portion (up to 15 hours per week).
- CCS: Reduces the cost of additional child care hours beyond the Free Kinder program.
At Aspire Early Education, we proudly accept both Kinder Funding and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Kindergarten FAQ’s
What are the benefits of kindergarten?
Attending kindergarten offers numerous developmental, social, and educational benefits for children. With free kindergarten programs now available in Victoria, families can access these advantages without financial barriers. Here's how a funded kindergarten program can benefit your child:
- Building confidence and independence
- Enhancing numeracy and literacy skills
- Developing social skills
- Encouraging positive wellbeing practices
- Nurturing creativity and imagination
With the availability of funded kinder programs in Victoria, these developmental benefits are more accessible, ensuring that children receive the essential early education they need for a successful future.
At what age can my child start kinder?
You can use the kinder age calculator to check when your child will be eligible to start three-year-old kinder and four-year-old kindergarten.
For children born between January 1 and April 30, families have the flexibility to decide whether to start three-year-old kindergarten in the year their child turns three or the following year when they turn four.
How many hours of kinder should my child attend?
The number of kindergarten hours your child should attend depends on their age and the type of program available. In Victoria, the government recommends the following:
Three-Year-Old Kindergarten
- 15 hours per week: Children are encouraged to attend a government-funded program for up to 15 hours a week, typically spread across two or three days.
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
- 15 hours per week: Children are also eligible for 15 hours per week of a funded kindergarten program to help prepare them for primary school.
What's the difference between long day care kinder and sessional kinder?
At Aspire, we understand the importance of choosing the right kindergarten program for your child. That’s why we proudly offer government-funded kindergarten programs within our long day care service format—a model designed to provide flexibility, convenience, and holistic care for your family.
Aspire’s Long Day Care Kindergarten
- Integrated Care and Learning: Our long day care model seamlessly integrates a government-funded kindergarten curriculum with extended care services. This means your child benefits from a high-quality educational program while also receiving care before and after the program hours—all in one convenient location.
- Flexible Hours: Aspire’s long day care programs typically operate from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, giving working parents the flexibility they need while ensuring their child is engaged in a nurturing learning environment.
- Convenience and Continuity: We eliminate the need for separate childcare arrangements, offering a single, cohesive solution for your family’s early learning and care needs.
- Subsidy Support: While fees cover the additional care hours beyond the funded kindergarten program, families may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), making our services more accessible and affordable.
Sessional Kindergarten
- Focused on Education: Offers a dedicated government-funded kindergarten program with set hours and terms, typically aligned with school hours and holidays.
- Hours: Usually operates for shorter periods, such as 15 hours per week spread across 2–3 days.
- Community Feel: Sessional programs are often run by local councils or community organisations
Kinder Funding FAQ’s
Can I claim kinder funding on more than 1 child?
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.
Is there a gap or out-of-pocket expense?
At Aspire, we are proud to offer funded kindergarten in Victoria as part of the government initiative, providing eligible children with up to15 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, Aspire allows families to seamlessly access these funded hours in an inclusive and supportive environment.
How Free Kinder Victoria Works at Aspire
- Fully Covered Kindy Hours: Aspire 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, Aspire 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. Use our CCS calculator to calculate your out of pocket costs.
What happens if I miss a day of kinder?
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 Aspire’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.
Are incursions and excursions included in funding?
Yes, incursions and excursions are included in the funding and the overall fees across our centres.
What if my child attends more than 1 service?
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.
Can my child move to Aspire from a different service?
Yes, your child can move to Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten from a different service.
Is kindergarten free in Victoria?
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.
When did funded kinder start?
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.
What is the kinder tick?
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.
