Victoria is building on its nation-leading early childhood system by delivering:
- Free Kinder: Free Kinder is available for all 3- and 4-year-old children at participating Victorian services in standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care centres.
- Three-Year-Old Kindergarten: Three-Year-Old Kindergarten continues, with programs increasing to 15 hours a week across the state by 2029, providing Victorian children with 2 years of quality early learning before school.
- Pre-Prep: By 2036, 4-year-old children in all locations across Victoria will have access to between 16 and 30 hours of Pre-Prep.
- Early learning and childcare centres: 50 Victorian government-owned and operated early learning and childcare centres are being established. These centres will be built in areas with the greatest need and make it easier for families to access early childhood education and childcare.
Victoria’s expansion of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten gives children more time with qualified early childhood teachers and educators, during a period of rapid brain development.
This increase in hours in the year before school gives children even greater access to the many benefits of early childhood education.
Teachers and educators can also provide deeper and more deliberate play experiences, which will give children opportunities to embed their learning.
Resources
- Early Learning Victoria:(opens in a new window) for information about the government owned and operated early learning and childcare centres, including the 14 new centres for 2026
- The Best Start, Best Life reforms:(opens in a new window) for information about the Best Start, Best Life initiatives and the roll-out schedule
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