Starting school with confidence begins long before the first bell rings. For many Queensland families, the Free Kindergarten program is transforming access to quality early childhood education by removing cost barriers and giving children a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
What Is the Queensland Free Kindy Program?
In January 2024, the Queensland Government introduced the Free Kindy initiative – a significant reform in early childhood education. The program provides 15 hours per week of free, government-funded kindergarten for eligible children in the year before they start Prep, equating to up to 600 hours of free kindergarten per year.
The intention is simple yet powerful: to ensure every eligible child can participate in a high-quality kindergarten program without families paying fees for these funded hours, while still allowing flexibility for different care arrangements.
Who Is Eligible for Free Kindy?
Your child may be eligible for the Queensland Free Kindy program if:
They are 4 years old by 30 June in the year they attend kindergarten
They are enrolled in a government-approved kindergarten program in Queensland, either in a sessional kindergarten or within a long day care setting
They attend at least 15 hours per week of a funded kindergarten program
Importantly, there is no family income test for Free Kindy. The program is designed to support all Queensland families, regardless of household circumstances.
Free Kindy and Child Care Subsidy (CCS): How They Work Together
If your child attends more than the 15 funded kindergarten hours per week — for example, in a long day care environment — fees may still apply for additional hours. These costs can often be reduced through the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS), depending on your family’s eligibility.
Free Kindy and CCS work together to make early learning more affordable, especially for families who require full-day care while benefiting from a structured kindergarten program delivered by qualified early childhood teachers.
How Much Will Kindergarten Cost Your Family? Use Our Kindy Calculator
Understanding early learning fees can feel overwhelming, particularly when multiple funding streams are involved. To support families with clarity and confidence, we’ve created a Kindy Fee Calculator that helps estimate your likely out-of-pocket costs.
The calculator considers:
The Queensland Free Kindy 15-hour subsidy
Your centre’s daily fee structure
Your family’s Child Care Subsidy percentage
Any additional hours attended beyond the funded kindergarten program
How the Kindy Calculator Works
Enter your child’s weekly attendance hours, including funded kindergarten time
Add your centre’s daily fees for kindergarten and any wrap-around care
Input your CCS percentage as advised by Services Australia
View an estimated weekly and annual fee breakdown, before and after subsidies
Families often tell us that seeing these figures clearly laid out makes planning far easier — particularly when weighing up part-time versus full-time care options.
Why Free Kindy Matters
Queensland’s Free Kindy initiative represents one of the most significant investments in early childhood education in recent years. Beyond the financial relief, participation in a high-quality kindergarten program supports:
Strong school readiness and emotional confidence
Development of foundational skills in communication, literacy, and numeracy
Social connection, routine, and independence in preparation for Prep
Children benefit from learning in play-based environments guided by qualified educators who understand how young minds grow and thrive.
Planning Your Child’s Kindergarten Year
Free Kindy gives families more choice, more confidence, and more access to early learning that truly sets children up for success. By combining government funding with clear fee planning through our Kindy Calculator, families can make informed decisions that suit their child and their household.
Give us a call on 1300 00 PLAY today to find out more about the Kindergarten Program at our Sanctuary Centres.
