Getting Free Kindy in QLD - Everything You Need to Know
13 September 2024
What is free kindy for Queensland?
The initiative of providing free kindy in Queensland has been introduced as part of the state government’s plan to expand access to early childhood education. The initiative was announced in late 2022 and officially started in 2023, offering all children enrolled in approved kindergartens 15 hours a week of free kindy.
For parents who are looking for a way to manage the cost of childcare, free kindy offers substantial subsidies that families can take advantage of to help their child receive high-quality early learning in a supportive and engaging environment and gain the essential developmental skills they need in preparation for the transition to school.
Who can access free kindy in QLD?
Eligibility for free kindergarten in QLD includes the following for children:
- Be at least four years old by 30 June in the year before they start their first year of formal schooling (also known as Prep).
- Attend a government-approved educational program offering free kindy in a long daycare arrangement.
- Attend a kindergarten centre that has been approved by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) for at least 15 hours per week, 40 weeks of the year.
What are the benefits of free kindy?
Financial relief
It goes without saying that raising a child can place a significant burden on the household’s finances. With subsidised kindy, parents can give their children quality early learning without having to worry about having to pay high costs.
Free kindy can also be used in conjunction with Childcare Subsidy (CCS) — the 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year of free kindy is funded automatically by free kindy, with the leftover amount being split between parents and the CCS. Families that are eligible for the CCS can claim the leftover amount, which provides additional financial relief.
Social development for children
Free kindy allows children to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering social skills, empathy, and cooperation. Early childhood education has been linked to better educational outcomes, higher earning potential, and improved social skills later in life, making free kindy an investment in the future of both children and society.
Preparing your child for school readiness
Approved centres that offer free kindy have teaching curriculums based on the national standard of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Through the EYLF, children will learn the critical skills they need before making the transition to Prep.
Getting your child school-ready will help them to be more confident in their future learning. Educators during free kindy are closely involved with reviewing the progress of children and will make recommendations to parents for whether their child will benefit from an additional year in kindergarten to bolster their school readiness.
When can my child start attending free kindy?
Free kindy is available for children who are 4 years of age by 30 June in the year before they start Prep. Check below for the eligible birth dates and their kindy enrolment year:
- Children born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 will be transiting to Prep.
- Children born between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 can start attending free kindy in 2024.
- Children born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 can start attending free kindy in 2025.
How to get started with free kindy in QLD
Ready to get started with free kindy in QLD? Here are a few simple steps you can follow to begin the enrolment process for your child.
- Use the Queensland government's kindy age calculator to find out if your child is eligible to start kindy this year or the next.
- If your child is eligible for free kindy, start looking for approved kindergarten centres, such as MMCNQ’s list of 14 Long Day Care and Sessional Kindergartens across Townsville.
- Book an appointment with any of our centres to meet our friendly educators and centre directors to learn what to expect for you and your child.
- Enrol with us as soon as possible to save a spot for your child when our kindy programs start!