Everything to know about Victoria’s free kinder scheme for 2021

Victoria’s plan for free kinder throughout 2021 is set to pocket parents $2000 for each child in the program. Here’s what else you need to know.

Childcare educator Leanne Mits joined by students Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Free kinder has been announced for 2021 but Victorian families and childcare centres have been left confused by what it means for them.

A $169.6 million pre-budget package revealed last week is expected to save parents about $2000 for each child in a funded program.

One Melbourne children’s centre contacted families at the weekend stating it was seeking to “clarify how the investment in kindergartens will work”.

We’ve put questions to the Victorian Government to ensure families get all the information they need.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Kinder will be free in 2021 through a $169.6 million Victorian Government investment in early childhood education.

This includes funded three and four-year-old kindergarten programs in sessional and long day care.

Reduced fees will apply for children who attend unfunded three-year-old programs at sessional kindergartens.

The announcement is an extension of free sessional kinder during terms 2, 3 and 4 this year.

The Victorian Government hopes the funding will make it easier for parents — and in particular, women — to return to work during the COVID-19 recovery.

Families are expected to save $2000 for each child.

DO I NEED TO APPLY?

No.

Payments will be made to service providers that deliver funded kindergarten, not directly to families.

HOW DOES THIS CHANGE WHAT IS IN PLACE NOW?

Currently, the Victorian Government has made sessional kinder services free during pandemic restrictions in Terms 2, 3 and 4 in 2020.

Under the new announcement, this will be extended into 2021 and be expanded to long day care centres that deliver kinder programs.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The package will benefit up to 100,000 families in 2021 – it is available to children attending funded kindergarten programs in both sessional kindergartens and long day care settings and children attending unfunded three-year-old programs in sessional kindergarten services.

All children are eligible.

HOW WILL THIS SAVE ME $2000?

For families with a child enrolled in a participating community kinder for a sessional 15 hour a week program, they will pay nothing in 2021, rather than paying about $2000.

For families with a child who attends a kinder program in long day care two days a week with a daily fee of $120 and Child Care Subsidy rate of 65 per cent, their out of pocket fees will be reduced by about half.

In this instance, weekly cost will drop from $84 to about $42, totalling a saving of approximately $2000 a year.

WHAT CENTRES ARE INCLUDED?

All centres, including council, not-for-profit and privately run are eligible.

Families with kids enrolled in funded kinder programs are eligible, in either sessional or long day care.

That includes all four-year-old programs, and funded three-year-old programs.

By 2021, 21 local government areas will have funded three-year-old kinder programs as part of the State Government’s three-year-old kinder initiative, which will be implemented across Victoria by 2022.

For families in unfunded three-year-old kinder programs at sessional centres, additional funding will be available to reduce fees.

HOW WILL THIS WORK BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS?

The Victorian Government will work with the Commonwealth to make sure families with kids in long day care will get the full benefit.

Kinder centres that get JobKeeper payments will be eligible for Free Kinder payments for the whole of 2021.

Parents and services will get more information about eligibility and implementation later this month.

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