The roll-out of more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder (Pre-Prep) started in 6 local government areas (LGAs) in 2025 and will gradually roll out across the state.
New LGAs will be added to the roll-out each year. The staged schedule allows time to grow the workforce and build the infrastructure. It gives services time to prepare for expanded programs.
By roll-out year
Between 16 and 30 hours per week.
LGAs:
- Ararat Rural City
- Gannawarra Shire
- Hindmarsh Shire
- Murrindindi Shire
- Northern Grampians Shire
- Yarriambiack Shire
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Between 16 and 20 hours per week.
Maximum hours per week increase over time to:
- 25 hours from 2029
- 30 hours from 2031.
LGAs:
- Benalla Rural City
- Buloke Shire
- Corangamite Shire
- East Gippsland Shire
- Horsham Rural City
- Loddon Shire
- Mansfield Shire
- Mitchell Shire
- Pyrenees Shire
- Strathbogie Shire
- Wangaratta Rural City
- Wodonga City.
Program hours for 2026 priority groups:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
- children from a refugee or asylum seeker background
- children who have had contact with Child Protection.
Children supported by Early Start Kindergarten or Access to Early Learning for 3-Year-Old Kinder are automatically eligible for more hours of 4-Year-Old-Kinder the following year.
Program hours for 2026 priority groups:
- Between 16 and 25 hours per week from 2026.
- Maximum hours per week increase to 30 hours from 2028.
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Between 16 and 20 hours per week.
Maximum hours per week increase over time to:
- 25 hours from 2029
- 30 hours from 2031.
LGAs:
- Alpine Shire
- Central Goldfields Shire
- Colac-Otway Shire
- Glenelg Shire
- Indigo Shire
- Moira Shire
- Moorabool Shire
- Moyne Shire
- South Gippsland Shire
- Southern Grampians Shire
- Swan Hill Rural City
- West Wimmera Shire
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Between 16 and 20 hours per week.
Maximum hours per week increase over time to:
- 25 hours from 2029
- 30 hours from 2031.
LGAs:
- Bass Coast Shire
- Baw Baw Shire
- Campaspe Shire
- Golden Plains Shire
- Greater Shepparton City
- Hepburn Shire
- Latrobe City
- Macedon Ranges Shire
- Mildura Rural City
- Mount Alexander Shire
- Queenscliff Borough
- Surf Coast Shire
- Towong Shire
- Warrnambool City
- Wellington Shire
2028 priority groups:
Children:
- who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
- from a multiple birth (triplets or more).
Program hours for 2028 priority groups:
- Between 16 and 25 hours from 2028.
- Maximum hours per week increase to 30 hours from 2030.
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Between 16 and 25 hours per week.
Maximum hours per week increase to 30 hours from 2033.
LGAs:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Geelong
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Program hours for Metropolitan Melbourne (all remaining LGAs):
Between 16 and 20 hours per week in 2034.
Maximum hours per week increase to:
- 25 hours in 2035
- 30 hours from 2036.
From 2036, children across Victoria can access up to 30 hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder per week.
Roll-out hours by year and LGA - overview image
Updated