Pre-Prep roll-out schedule

Pre-Prep starts 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, build the infrastructure, and services to prepare for expanded programs.

Find your local government area.

By roll-out year

LGAs launching Pre-Prep in 2025
Between 16 and 30 hours per week
LGAs:
- Ararat Rural City
- Gannawarra Shire
- Hindmarsh Shire
- Murrindindi Shire
- Northern Grampians Shire
- Yarriambiack Shire
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
- between 16 and 20 hours per week from 2026
- between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
- between 16 and 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 Rural City.
2026 priority groups:
- children who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- children from a refugee or asylum seeker background
- children who have had contact with Child Protection or are in out of home care
- children who were supported by Early Start Kindergarten or the Access to Early Learning program for Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.
Pre-Prep hours for 2026 priority groups:
- between 16 and 25 hours per week from 2026
- between 16 and 30 hours from 2028.
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
- between 16 and 20 hours per week from 2027
- between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
- between 16 and 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
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
- between 16 and 20 hours in 2028
- between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
- between 16 and 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:
- who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
- from a multiple birth (triplets or more).
Pre-Prep hours for 2028 priority groups:
- between 16 and 25 hours from 2028
- between 16 and 30 hours from 2030.
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
- between 16 and 25 hours in 2032
- between 16 and 30 hours from 2033.
LGAs:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Geelong
Pre-Prep hours for Metropolitan Melbourne (all remaining LGAs):
- between 16 and 20 hours per week in 2034
- between 16 and 25 hours in 2035
- between 16 and 30 hours from 2036.

Roll-out hours by year and LGA - overview image

Download 'Roll-out hours by year and LGA - overview image'

Early childhood

Updated 22 July 2025