Queensland – “Free Kindy”
The Queensland Government’s funded kindergarten program is called “Free Kindy.” This program provides 15 hours per week of government-approved kindergarten education for 40 weeks per year, available to all Queensland families starting from January 1, 2024.
Now enrolling at 60+ centres across Queensland
Frequently asked questions
To receive the QLD Government Free Kindy subsidy your child needs to turn 4 years old by 30 June 2024 and attend 15 hours per week (minimum 2 days) at our centre.
If your child attended Kindy in 2023 and will complete another year of Kindy in 2024, they will be eligible for the QLD Free Kindy subsidy.
The QLD government is offering 15 hours per week for 40 weeks of subsidised kindy each year.
The out-of-pocket cost of kindy for 40 weeks of the year will be subsidised by the QLD government and reduce your GAP fees after your CCS is applied. This means kindy will be more affordable than ever before for Queensland families.
To access this funding, a child must attend 15 hours per week (minimum 2 days).
During the twelve weeks where the ‘Free Kindy’ subsidy is not applied, your CCS will be applied to your fees to reduce your out-of-pocket costs (as per CCS entitlements in pre-kindergarten years at your centre).
*In order to access the Queensland Governments 15 Hours of ‘Free Kindy’, your child must attend 15 Hours per week. This requires a 2-day minimum attendance.
Example:
Johnny is 3 years old and is turning 4 in March next year. Currently, Johnny attends a 10 Hour Session 3 days per week and is receiving a 72% Child Care Subsidy.
The weekly out-of-pocket cost for Johnny’s parents is $162.42 (Parent GAP $54.14 x 3 days) for 30 hours of care.
Next year, Johnny will opt in to the Queensland ‘Free Kindy’ funded program, where he will access 15 hours per week ‘free’.
Johnny will continue to attend 3 days per week; however, the weekly out-of-pocket cost for Johnny’s parents will be significantly lower due to the subsidised 15 hours of Kindy.
- 2x long daycare days with 15 hours of funded Kindy (2x $13.54) = $27.08
- 1x long daycare day (1x $54.14) = 54.14
Therefore, the weekly out-of-pocket cost for Johnny’s parents will drop to $81.21 per week for 30 hours of care. That’s an out-of-pocket savings of $81.21 per week thanks to the Queensland Government’s ‘Free Kindy’!
The 7.5 hours free kindy is delivered during our long day care hours at our centres. The QLD government is subsidising 7.5 hours of your long day care kindy day, therefore, there will be a reduced out-of-pocket cost on these days.
Our centres offer long daycare hours, you are welcome to drop off and pick up your child any time during our opening hours.
Your ‘Free Kindy’ subsidy will still apply to 7.5 hour (2 days per week) regardless of your child’s attendance.
The government-subsidised kindergarten hours apply to 15 hours a week over 40 weeks. This will be applied in the same weeks as the state school terms.
No, you can only access funding at one centre for 15 hours a week over 40 weeks.
This is an additional subsidy from the QLD government that will apply to a portion of your fees after the Childcare Subsidy is applied. The percentage of CCS your family is entitled to for non-kindergarten program hours will not change.
ACCS will continue to be applied to your fees. There is no change to this arrangement.
Good news for families who are not eligible for CCS. The QLD Government will subsidise the 15 hours per week of Free Kindy for 40 weeks per year. Outside of these subsidised hours, full fees will apply.