130 services on board for free 3-year-old preschool in Canberra in 2024

Across Canberra, 130 early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have signed on for the roll out of free three-year-old preschool in 2024. 

A recent investment by the ACT Government will see three-year-olds eligible for up to 300 hours of free preschool from the start of 2024, which equates to approximately one day per week, and an average saving of $1,329 per child for families. 

“We know that investing in early education provides life-long benefits for our children and sets them up for success,” said Minister for Education and Youth Affairs Yvette Berry.

“I look forward to working with each of the services who are partnering with the ACT Government to roll out this significant reform.”

More than $50 million was provided in the 2023/24 ACT Budget to support three-year-old preschool, with more than 5,000 children across Canberra to be eligible. Those three-year-olds will be catered for across a broad range of early childhood education and care services, including long day care.

This investment will increase preschool programs delivered through ECEC centres by degree-qualified early childhood teachers.

The full list of ECEC services taking part in three-year-old preschool in 2024 can be found here.