Kinder Funding (also known as Free Kinder) is a Victorian Government initiative that helps families access high-quality early childhood education for their 3 and 4-year-old children at reduced cost. The aim is to ensure all children can benefit from early learning that builds confidence, social skills and school readiness.
Kinder Funding is government financial support for:
Three-Year-Old Kindergarten programs
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs
This funding is available at participating childcare services across Victoria that offer funded kinder programs. The School Preparation Program at Paisley Park Early Learning Centres is approved for Kinder Funding.
There’s no need to apply directly for the funding – it is managed for you once your child is enrolled.
Good news — Kinder Funding is for everyone:
Your child can receive the funding as long as they’re enrolled in a participating funded kinder program such as Paisley Park’s.
Important: You can access Free Kinder at only one service at a time. You need to sign a form naming one service as the place where you’ll receive the funding and complete the government’s Occupation and Education Form.
The hours covered by the funding are:
Three-Year-Old Kinder: 5–15 hours per week (up to 15 hours by 2029)*
Four-Year-Old Kinder: Currently 15 hours per week
Four-Year-Old Pre-Prep Programs: Gradually increasing from 15 up to 30 hours per week.*
When enrolled in an approved program in a long daycare service, you receive a fee offset that reduces your annual costs, shown clearly on your fortnightly invoice as a “Victorian Government Free Kinder offset”. This means you don’t have to claim anything back, the savings come directly through lower fees.
* Starting in 2025 and transitioning by 2029, funding for 3 and 4 year old programs will increase and 4-Year-Old Kinder Programs will be re-named ‘Pre-Prep Programs’. Click below to learn more
Get in touch with our Enrolments Manager Jo to talk about your childcare options.
Get answers to all your questions and find out everything you want to know about your nearest Paisley Park Early Learning Centre.
Take a personal tour with our Centre Director to see the centre for yourself.
Come and meet the team and get a sense of how things run and how the children interact with each other and their Educators.
Once you’ve decided that Paisley Park is the right choice for your family, you’re ready to enrol.
At some centres there is a waitlist and we’ll add you to our priority list for when a place becomes available.
