Queensland Budget 2025–26: Key wins and what they mean for early childhood education and care

As cost-of-living pressures rise and national reform reshapes the early years landscape, the Queensland Government’s 2025–26 Budget outlines new support for children, families and the services that care for them.

 

ECEC professionals, service leaders and sector advocates will find key wins in both funding certainty and systemic support, as the government looks to secure safety, access and quality across the early years.

 

Key highlights include:

 

• $506.5 million to maintain Free Kindy
• $12.7 million over four years for the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA)
• 29 new regulatory officers to strengthen compliance and oversight
• $20 million Returning to Work Package supporting parents re-entering the workforce
• $814.8 million in new school infrastructure, with flow-on effects for early years transitions

 

Free Kindy funding secured

 

The centrepiece for the sector is the continuation of Free Kindy, with $506.5 million allocated for 2025–26. This funding supports:

 

• Free kindy for all eligible children
• Inclusion funding to meet the needs of children with disability or developmental delays
• Assistance for rural and remote services to sustain participation
• Workforce strategies to attract and retain qualified early childhood educators

 

The investment reinforces the state’s commitment to equitable access, while helping services remain viable and responsive to community needs.

 

Regulatory Authority “saved” from funding lapse

 

As previously reported by The Sector, the Crisafulli Government has reversed a looming funding cut to the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA), which oversees more than 3,300 ECEC services.

 

The Budget provides $12.7 million over four years, plus $4.2 million in ongoing annual funding, to:

 

• Recruit 29 additional full-time regulatory officers
• Increase the number of unannounced visits, compliance checks and enforcement actions
• Support the implementation of the Blue Card Child Safety Review recommendations

 

The move ensures continuity of safety oversight and was welcomed by sector leaders as a vital investment in service quality and child wellbeing.

 

Workforce pathways and re-entry support

 

Workforce capacity remains a key issue across ECEC. The Budget includes support for several initiatives that aim to strengthen the pipeline and support re-entry:

 

• $20 million Returning to Work Package to support parents, particularly women, returning after caregiving or illness
• $333 million over four years, plus $80 million ongoing, for the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, targeting disadvantaged jobseekers and those pursuing new qualifications
• Continued access to professional development for educators, especially in inclusive education and behaviour support

 

While not ECEC-specific, these initiatives support the broader goal of ensuring every service has the skilled professionals needed to deliver quality learning and care.

 

School infrastructure: growth areas and opportunity

 

ECEC leaders in fast-growing areas may take note of the $814.8 million over four years allocated for school infrastructure projects. These include:

 

• New primary schools in Caloundra South and Ripley Valley
• New special schools or campuses in Coomera, Springfield or Redbank, Beenleigh, Ipswich West, Moreton Bay South and Berrinba

 

Although not directly tied to kindy, these developments often lead to increased demand for early learning services and can support smoother transitions from early childhood to school.

 

Cost of living support for families

 

Several measures in the Budget support Queensland families, which may indirectly benefit early learning participation:

 

• $100 Back to School Boost (starting 2026), an annual voucher for Prep to Year 6 students to help cover education-related costs
• $200 Play On! vouchers to encourage child participation in extracurricular sports and activities

 

These supports are aimed at reducing household stress and keeping children connected to learning and community activities.

 

Looking ahead: what it means for ECEC

 

Overall, the Queensland Budget 2025–26 delivers welcome stability for the early years. With Free Kindy secured, regulatory functions enhanced and family support extended, the sector is well-positioned to build on recent reforms and continue advocating for quality, equity and access.

 

As funding begins to flow, the challenge now lies in ensuring that investment translates into tangible impact, especially in building workforce capacity, sustaining rural and remote services, and maintaining quality through periods of growth and change.