Kindergarten and Preschool Fee Relief Subsidy Programs
Kindergarten and Preschool fee relief subsidy programs are now available in each of the three states where Petit ELJ operates to ensure up to 600 hours per year of Kindergarten and Preschool education is more affordable for families. While each of these programs work slightly differently in each state, they all provide fee reductions to eligible families in addition to their Childcare Subsidy (CCS).
At Petit ELJ, our Kindergarten and Preschool Programs (known as 3 Years Learning Program and 4 Years Learning Program) are specifically designed for children to ensure they are capable and confident for their transition to school and are run by approved Early Childhood Teachers.
Each State Government provides this funding directly to Petit ELJ and we pass this on to eligible families participating in our Funded Kindergarten or Preschool Programs by way of regular credit to their family account. This means that the fee relief subsidy is applied to your gap not the full daily fee.
New South Wales
The Start Strong Preschool Funding Program supports Preschool education for all children in New South Wales. In 2024, families can access fee relief for 3 and 4 year old children through the Start Strong Program.
Families may save up to $2,110 a year for eligible children aged 4 years and above (by 31 July 2024) and up to $500 a year for children aged 3 years and not yet 4 years (by 31 July 2024) in eligible long day care services. This is in addition to Australian Government CCS payments, which most families in long day care services are eligible to receive.
Read more about the Start Strong Preschool Funding Program.
Queensland
In Queensland, Kindergarten (or Kindy), is a part-time educational program for children aged at least 4 years of age by 30 June in the year before they attend Prep.
In 2024, Kindy will be free for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year for eligible Queensland children attending a Government-approved Kindergarten Program. The Free Kindy Funding is set to save families up to $4,600 per year and additional hours of care may be covered in part by the Australian Government CCS. For example – if your daily fee is $131 and your CCS entitlement is 55%, you will receive $46.88 per day for up to two days per week, across 40 weeks of the year – this is a saving of $3,750!
Read more about the Free Kindy Funding.
Victoria
Starting in 2023, all children in Victoria who are 3 and 4 years old can access the Free Kinder Program. The Victorian Government offers Free Kinder Funding for eligible children to support their learning and development in the year before they start school. Free Kinder Funding means a fee offset of up to $2,050 per child at participating services:
- For 3-year-old children, this means from $666.67 (for a child enrolled in the Kindergarten Program for 5 hours) to $2,050 (for a child enrolled for 15 hours).
- For 4-year-old children, this means $2,050 for children enrolled in a 15-hour Kindergarten Program (600 hours a year).
Read more about the Free Kinder Funding.
