Roll-out schedule for more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder

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.

Find your local government area

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
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.
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
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.
Between 16 and 25 hours per week.
Maximum hours per week increase to 30 hours from 2033.
LGAs:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Geelong
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.

Roll-out hours by year and LGA - overview image

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

Early childhood education and care

Updated 5 August 2026