Free Kinder in long day care: how the fee offset works in 2026
No. In long day care, Free Kinder is a fee offset, not a free day. It is a set amount taken off your fees across the year: $2,101 per child in 2026 for a 15 hour a week kinder program.
You still pay for the care around the kinder program, such as the rest of the day, meals and sleep time. The offset reduces that bill. It works differently from a standalone kindergarten, and the difference is worth understanding before you compare centres.
Two settings, two ways the funding reaches you
Victoria funds kinder for three and four year olds at participating services. How that funding reaches your family depends on where your child does kinder.
In a standalone (sessional) kindergarten that participates in Free Kinder, there are no compulsory out-of-pocket fees for the funded program. The state notes that a service may still charge for one-off excursions or incursions, and registration (waitlist) fees.
In a long day care centre, the kinder program runs inside a longer day of education and care. Because you are paying for the whole day, the funding arrives as a fee offset rather than a program with no fee.
Not every service participates in Free Kinder, so the first question to ask any centre is whether it does.
What the offset is worth in 2026
- Four year old kinder, 15 hours a week: $2,101 per child for the year.
- Three year old kinder, 15 hours a week: $2,101 per child for the year.
- Three year old kinder of fewer than 15 hours: a smaller offset to match. The state lists $700.33 for a 5 hour program.
Victoria sets these rates each year. The 2027 rates have not been published, so ask the centre to confirm the figure for the year your child is enrolling.
Hours above 15 a week
For most children, the offset covers up to 15 hours of kinder a week. The state says that if your child attends more than 15 hours a week, the additional hours are not covered by the offset.
The exception is children who are eligible for more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder. In Melbourne’s east this currently means priority groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from a refugee or asylum seeker background, children who have had contact with Child Protection, and children who were supported by Early Start Kindergarten or Access to Early Learning in 3 year old kinder. For these children the offset is larger. Ask the centre whether your child is eligible. Our guide to Pre-Prep in Melbourne explains when more hours reach the rest of Melbourne.
How it works with the Child Care Subsidy
The Child Care Subsidy is a federal payment, and the percentage you receive depends on your family’s income. Since 5 January 2026, under the 3 Day Guarantee, all families eligible for the subsidy can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight, which is 3 days a week, regardless of work or study activity. Some families can get 100 hours a fortnight. The guarantee is about subsidised hours, not a place at a particular service. Your own entitlement is worked out by Services Australia, so check it there rather than relying on any general figure.
If you receive the Child Care Subsidy, it is applied to your fees first. The Free Kinder offset then comes off the amount that is left. You do not need to be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy to receive Free Kinder.
The centre must pass the offset on to you. It is applied weekly or fortnightly, and it should appear on your invoice as “Victorian Government Free Kinder offset”. You can only receive Free Kinder at one service at a time, so tell the centre if your child also attends another kinder.
What to ask a centre
- Do you participate in Free Kinder, and is your kinder program government funded?
- Which age groups does your funded kinder program cover?
- How many hours a week does the program run?
- How will the Free Kinder offset appear on my invoice?
- What is the daily fee before the Child Care Subsidy, and can you give me a written estimate after it?
Kinder at Discovery Childcare and Education
Discovery Childcare and Education runs long day care centres in Ringwood, Croydon and Boronia. Our kinder programs are led by qualified early childhood teachers. Availability of funded kinder varies by centre, so please ask the centre you are interested in.
If you would like to understand what you would pay, call the centre and ask them to walk you through it.
- Ringwood: 30 Bond Street, (03) 9879 8055
- Croydon: 50 Maroondah Highway, (03) 9722 8933
- Boronia: 172 Boronia Road, (03) 9762 4888
Frequently asked questions
Is kinder free in long day care in Victoria?
No. At a participating long day care centre, Free Kinder is a fee offset, which is a set amount taken off your fees across the year. You still pay for the care around the kinder program. In 2026 the offset is $2,101 per child for a 15 hour a week program.
How much is the Free Kinder offset in 2026?
For a kinder program of 15 hours a week, the 2026 offset is $2,101 per child. Three year old programs of fewer than 15 hours receive a smaller offset, from $700.33 for a 5 hour program. Victoria sets these rates each year, so confirm the current amount with the centre.
Does the offset cover more than 15 hours of kinder a week?
For most children, no. The state says hours above 15 a week are not covered by the offset. Children who are eligible for more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, receive a larger offset. Ask the centre whether your child is eligible.
Do I need the Child Care Subsidy to get Free Kinder?
No. You do not need to be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy to receive Free Kinder. If you do receive the subsidy, it is applied to your fees first and the Free Kinder offset comes off what is left.
Can I receive Free Kinder at two services?
No. You can only receive Free Kinder at one kinder service at a time. If your child attends more than one service, tell each service where you want to receive it.
What will the offset be in 2027?
Victoria sets kinder funding rates each year and the 2027 rates have not been published. Ask the centre to confirm the current figure for the year your child is enrolling.