If you are a parent in Victoria with a child aged 3 to 5 years old, you may be eligible for Free Kinder Funding through the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder Program.

What is Free Kinder Funding?

The Victorian Government offers Free Kinder Funding for eligible children to support their learning and development in the year before they start school.

This funding covers 15 hours of Kindergarten per week, which can be used at any approved Kindergarten Program in Victoria. Our Kindergarten Programs will receive funding directly from the Victorian Government, so your family is not out of pocket (and do not have to claim the savings back).

The Free Kinder Funding is designed to ensure all children access the benefits of early learning, and give them a strong foundation for a successful school experience.

Free Kinder Funding FAQs

The Victorian Government offers Free Kinder Funding for eligible children to support their learning and development in the year before they start school. This funding covers 15 hours of Kindergarten per week, which can be used at any approved Kindergarten Program in Victoria.

Free Kinder Funding commenced in 2023 and will continue into 2024.

Yes, all Petit ELJ Victorian centres are participating. 

For eligible children who attend Petit ELJ, the Free Kinder Funding payments in 2024  for those that attend 2 days or more (15-hour subsidised program) will attract $2,050 across the school year. Nominating Petit ELJ as your Kindergarten provider will mean that your centre receives funding that supports program resources and will have access to a dedicated Early Childhood Teacher for a minimum of at least 15 hours a week for each child.

  • Victorian children who turn 3 years old by 30th April 2024 are eligible for the 3-year-old Free Kinder Funding.
  • Victorian children who turn 4 years old by 30th April 2024 are eligible for the 4-year-old Free Kinder Funding.
  • Only one service can be nominated at a time.
  • Only one year each of the 3 year old and 4 year old Free Kinder Funding can be claimed.
  • A minimum of 2 days enrolment is required.

Children can only receive Free Kinder Funding at one service. If a child attends more than once service, the family must nominate which service they will receive their funded Kindergarten Program and therefore their Free Kinder Funding.

If your child is in Kindergarten and moves from one service to Petit ELJ the Free Kinder Funding will move with your child, with the regular payments made to us for the rest of the year (or the duration that your child remains with us).

Your payments are made by the Victorian Government to Petit ELJ, not to families. We will directly offset the Free Kinder Funding payment from your weekly fees and you will be able to see the offset amount on your statement.

To maximise the financial benefit for families, the Free Kinder Funding offset to fees will be applied after CCS has been applied.

To find out more information about Free Kinder Funding and eligibility please visit The Victorian Government Website.