Transforming four-year-old kinder

Four-year-old kinder is changing, and for families in 12 more LGAs across Victoria, that change starts now.

More children across regional Victoria will soon have access to expanded four‑year‑old kindergarten, with the Victorian Government announcing the next stage of its rollout across 12 additional local government areas.

The expansion means thousands of children will be able to participate in longer, play‑based learning programs before they start school, a shift designed to strengthen early development.

The rollout builds on the first six LGAs that introduced expanded hours in 2025. From 2026, children in a further 12 regional communities will be able to access between 16 and 30 hours of funded kindergarten each week.

For many families, this represents double the amount of early learning previously available.

More than 130 funded kindergarten services are now delivering the expanded program, with more than 3,000 children expected to benefit from the 2026 stage of the rollout.

The expanded hours are designed to give children more time in high‑quality, play‑based learning environments, supporting social development, early literacy and numeracy, and school readiness.

Families will also benefit financially, with the Victorian Government estimating savings of up to $2,700 per child through reduced fees.

Priority access continues to apply for Aboriginal children, children from refugee backgrounds, and children involved with Child Protection, ensuring the reform supports those who benefit most from additional early learning time.

The next stage of the rollout will include:

• Benalla
• Buloke
• Corangamite
• East Gippsland
• Horsham
• Loddon
• Mansfield
• Mitchell
• Pyrenees
• Strathbogie
• Wangaratta
• Wodonga

These communities join the initial six LGAs that began delivering expanded hours in 2025.

The expansion of four‑year‑old kinder is part of Victoria’s broader early childhood reform agenda, which includes infrastructure investment, workforce development and a long‑term commitment to universal access.

As more regions come online, the reform is expected to reshape early learning participation across the state, giving children more time to learn, play and grow, and giving families greater flexibility and support.

More information is available at vic.gov.au/free-kinder.