Who is eligible?
Your child can get Free Kindy if they:
- Are at least four years old by 30 June in their kindy year.
- Are enrolled in a Queensland Government-approved kindy program.
- Are an Australian resident, or hold an eligible visa that is exempt from state school fees.
For kindy in 2027, that's children born between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
How Free Kindy works in long day care
In long day care, the 15 free hours sit inside your child's normal day. Many centres deliver them as two 7.5-hour kindy days each week.Your child can stay for a full day and attend on other days too. The hours outside the kindy program are charged as normal care, and the Child Care Subsidy can cover part of that cost.
Free Kindy and the Child Care Subsidy together
The two payments work side by side:
Free Kindy
Paid by: Queensland Government
Covers: 15 hours of approved kindy a week
Based on: Your child's age
How to get it: Enrol in an approved program
Child Care Subsidy
Paid by: in an approved program
Covers: Part of your remaining care hours
Based on: Your family income
How to get it: Apply through myGov
For many families, this combination brings the cost of kindy-age care well below what they paid in earlier years.
Things to know before you enrol
- Only one service can claim Free Kindy for your child. If your child is also enrolled elsewhere, the second service will charge fees.
- Look for the Free Kindy tick. Approved programs display the Queensland Government’s Free Kindy logo.
- Some children do two years of kindy. Ask how funding works if your educators suggest a second year.
- State Delivered Kindergarten is a separate free program in some areas. A child in that program can’t also claim Free Kindy elsewhere.
Free Kindy at Smart Tots
[Confirm which Smart Tots centres run a Queensland Government-approved kindy program.] Our kindy program is delivered by [confirm educator qualification] within our long day care rooms, so your child gets school-ready learning and full-day care in one place.[Confirm how Smart Tots schedules the 15 hours, e.g. two 7.5-hour days.]Not sure if your child is old enough? Read [Is My Child Ready for Kindy?] or [book a tour].
F A Q's
Questions parents
often ask.
Is kindy really free in Queensland?
Yes, for eligible children in an approved program, 15 hours a week for 40 weeks is free. Extra hours of care are charged separately.
Can I get Free Kindy at a childcare centre?
Yes, if the centre runs a Queensland Government-approved kindy program.
Do I need to apply for Free Kindy?
No separate government application is needed. You enrol with an approved service, and they claim the funding.
Can I use Free Kindy at two centres?
No. Free Kindy can only be claimed by one service per child.