If your child is heading to kindy soon, you have probably heard that kindy is free in Queensland. That is broadly true, but the details matter. Free Kindy pays for a teacher-led kindergarten program, not every hour your child spends at a centre. Here is what the funding covers, who can enrol, and what to check before choosing a service.

How Free Kindy Works in Queensland

Free Kindy covers 15 hours a week for up to 40 weeks a year in a Queensland Government-approved kindergarten program. The program must be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. Free Kindy is confirmed for 2026 and beyond, but families should check the Queensland Department of Education website for current eligibility rules and approved services.

What Free Kindy covers

• Covered: Up to 15 hours of an approved kindergarten program each week for up to 40 weeks a year.
• Not automatically covered: Care before and after the kindy program in a long day care centre.
• Not covered: Extra or wrap-around sessions outside the funded program.
• Not covered: Vacation care during school holidays.
• Varies by service: Excursions, supplies and other incidental costs. Ask about these before enrolling.

For hours outside the funded program, the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) may reduce what your family pays. Eligibility and subsidy amounts depend on your circumstances.

Who Is Eligible for Kindy in 2026?

The main eligibility rule is based on age. A child must be at least four years old by 30 June in the year they start kindy. For the 2026 kindy year, this generally means children born between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.

If you are unsure about your child’s starting year, use the Queensland Government’s kindy age checker or ask an approved service. Services may also have their own enrolment requirements, including policies relating to vaccination records, medical information and supporting documents.

Where Your Child Can Attend Kindy

Sessional or Community Kindy

Sessional kindy usually operates during school terms and around school hours. The 15 funded hours are commonly spread across two or three days, although timetables differ. Most sessional services close during school holidays. Some offer additional or wrap-around care for a fee because those hours sit outside the funded program.

Kindy in Long Day Care

In long day care, the approved kindy program is delivered within a longer care day. Free Kindy covers the program component, while the hours before and after it are charged under the centre’s usual fee structure. CCS may reduce the cost of those additional hours. Providers such as Rise and Shine use this model, with teacher-led kindy included within a full day of care.

eKindy and State Delivered Kindergarten

Families in remote areas, or children who cannot attend a centre for eligible medical reasons, may have other options. eKindy provides a distance kindergarten program with support from an early childhood teacher. State Delivered Kindergartens also operate at selected Queensland state schools. Availability and entry conditions vary, so check the official program information for your area.

Funding Applies to One Program at a Time

A child can receive Free Kindy funding for only one approved program at a time. If your child is enrolled in both a sessional kindy and a long day care kindy program, ask the services which one will receive the funding. The funded hours cannot be divided between two providers.

Costs and Subsidies in Practice

In long day care, Free Kindy covers the parent fee for the approved kindergarten program for up to 600 hours a year. The subsidy should be identified on your family fee statement. You may still pay for the remaining care hours, meals, excursions or other service-specific items. CCS may reduce some of those costs.

In session kindy, there is no parent fee for the funded program itself. However, a service may charge for optional sessions or extra hours outside that program.

When comparing providers such as Rise and Shine, ask for a sample fee statement. This can help you see which hours are funded, which costs may attract CCS and which extras remain payable. For an example of how a commercial provider explains program hours and wrap-around care, you can learn about free kindy in QLD. It is not official government guidance, and availability varies by centre.

How to Enroll

1. Confirm your child’s kindy year. Use the official age checker, then consider whether sessional kindy, long day care, eKindy or a State Delivered Kindergarten suits your family.
2. Shortlist approved services. Use the Free Kindy Finder, book tours and ask about timetables, teacher qualifications, fees, holidays and waitlists.
3. Gather the required documents. Services commonly request proof of your child’s birth date, emergency contacts, medical and allergy information, and any relevant court orders.
4. Apply early. Some services have long waitlists. Confirm the proposed start date, orientation arrangements, attendance pattern and items your child will need.

Getting Your Child Ready

Keep the preparation practical. Help your child practise opening their lunchbox, carrying their bag and putting on their hat. Label their belongings and establish a short, predictable goodbye routine. A consistent bedtime can also make early starts easier, and a guide to avoiding bedtime battles offers practical ideas for families working on evening routines. If possible, visit or walk past the centre before the first day so the setting feels familiar.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming the full day is free. In long day care, only the approved kindy program is covered. Other hours are billed and may then be reduced by CCS.
• Trying to use the funding twice. Free Kindy cannot be claimed at two services or split between providers.
• Forgetting school holidays. Sessional kindy usually follows school terms, so working families may need separate vacation care.
• Overlooking service-specific conditions. Attendance patterns, minimum booked days, enrolment policies and extra charges vary. Confirm them directly with the service.

What Long Day Care Kindy Looks Like

Long day care can suit families whose schedules do not fit school-term hours. Before enrolling, ask the provider to map the teacher-led kindy program against a normal day of care. You should be able to see when the program operates, which hours are funded and how other charges appear on the fee statement.

If you are comparing long day care with sessional kindy, the Rise and Shine website offers one example of how a provider explains program hours and wrap-around care. Treat provider information as a practical illustration rather than a substitute for government guidance.

Availability, schedules and fees differ between centres, so take your work roster to the tour and ask the service to explain how a typical week would work.

The Short Version

Free Kindy funds 15 hours a week for up to 40 weeks a year in an approved Queensland kindergarten program. Start by confirming your child’s eligible year, then choose the type of service that fits your schedule. Ask about care outside the funded hours, holiday arrangements, CCS and extra costs before accepting a place.

FAQs

Is Free Kindy available in 2026 and beyond?

Yes. Free Kindy is confirmed for 2026 and beyond. It funds up to 15 hours a week for 40 weeks a year in an approved program delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.

Which birth dates are eligible for kindy in 2026?

Children born between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 are generally eligible to attend kindy in 2026. Check the official age calculator if your child may need a delayed or adjusted start.

Can families use Free Kindy and CCS together?

Generally, yes. Free Kindy covers the approved kindergarten program. In long day care, CCS may reduce the cost of care before and after that program, depending on your family’s eligibility.

What options are available to families in remote areas?

Eligible families may be able to use eKindy or a State Delivered Kindergarten. Check current Queensland Government information because locations and entry conditions vary.