Early Start Kindergarten
Quality kindergarten programs improve children’s learning, health and behaviour with positive impacts extending into adult life.
Early Start Kindergarten provides eligible three year old children with access to kindergarten for up to 10.75 hours per week for free.
Who is eligible?
The following three year old children are eligible for a free kindergarten program:
- children known to Child Protection (including children referred from Child Protection to Child FIRST) or
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
How to enrol
If your child is eligible, simply advise the kindergarten teacher that your child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten.
To find a kindergarten in your area, talk to your local council or search: Find an Early Childhood Service or School
If applicable, talk to your Child Protection or Child FIRST/Family Services practitioner to help enrol your child in a kindergarten near you.
More information
- Aboriginal Early Years Support - for details about the programs that support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
- Fees - information about the fees for kindergarten and child care and financial assistance
- Free kindergarten for children known to child protection (PDF - 1.2Mb) - information about the Early Start program
- Free or low-cost kindergarten (PDF - 1.5Mb) - information on the kindergarten fee subsidy
- Regional Offices - contacts for your regional office to help you to find a kindergarten in your area that offers the Early Start program