Free health screening initiative for early years: Healthy Kindy Kids

The Queensland Government program, Healthy Kindy Kids, is being rolled out to support children in approved kindergarten programs across the State through free on‑site health and developmental checks. 

Program overview

• The Healthy Kindy Kids initiative will provide vision, hearing, speech and language development screens for children attending a government‑approved kindergarten program in Queensland
• It is built around early identification of health or developmental concerns before children enter full‑time schooling (Prep), so that support pathways can be activated early. 
• The pilot phase has began in selected sites (including the Townsville region) and will expand to a full State rollout by the end of 2027, with the aim of servicing up to 60,000 children per year at full scale. 
• The program is backed by an investment of A$37.5 million over its initial period. 

For early childhood services, educators, centre managers and approved providers, Healthy Kindy Kids offers several implications:

• Proactive support: By identifying issues like vision impairment, hearing loss or speech/language delay prior to school commencement, children are better placed to engage meaningfully in the early years of formal schooling.
• Collaboration across sectors: Early childhood education services work in partnership with health teams (including allied health assistants, students and supervised nurses) to deliver the checks on‑site in kindergarten programs. 
• Strengthening transition to school: The program enhances the transition journey by equipping families, services and schools with shared information about children’s health and development prior to Prep.
• Equity focus: Ensuring all children, including those whose families may face barriers to accessing private health checks, benefit from this free program contributes to more equitable early childhood outcomes.

What early childhood services can do now

• Review your service’s status as a government‑approved kindergarten program and ensure you are aware of the program’s rollout timetable in your region.
• Inform families of the Healthy Kindy Kids program and invite them to provide consent for their child to participate in the on‑site checks.
• Work with the health screening team and your service’s leadership to schedule and plan how the checks will be conducted with minimal disruption to service routines.
• Maintain the continuity of care by liaising with families and relevant allied health follow‑up services if a child is flagged for additional support.
• Reflect on how findings from the checks can inform your service’s transition to school planning, inclusive of children’s health and developmental needs

Healthy Kindy Kids presents an important opportunity for the early childhood sector to integrate health screening into kindergarten settings, supporting children’s readiness for school and bridging potential gaps early. Services that engage proactively with the program strengthen their role in children’s educational journeys and support improved early outcomes.