The Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms represent the most substantial transformation in Victoria’s early childhood sector in a generation. As part of these reforms:
- The Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program will expand, reaching 15 hours per week across the state by 2029.
- The Four-Year-Old Kindergarten program will evolve into Pre-Prep, with weekly hours increasing from 15 to 30 by 2036 throughout Victoria.
Extending the hours of teacher-led, play-based learning through Pre-Prep in the year before school provides children with enhanced access to the numerous benefits of early childhood education. Pre-Prep will launch in 2025, starting with children in six regional Victorian local government areas, and will gradually expand across the state.
3 year old Kinder
Starting in 2025, service providers will have the flexibility to decide the number of hours of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten they offer each week, ranging from a minimum of 5 hours to a maximum of 15 hours, within established guidelines.
Reference: Image from Department of Education Operational policies supporting the Best Start, Best Life reforms | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
Pre Prep
Beginning in 2025, the Four Year Old Kindergarten will transition to Pre-Prep, expanding to 30 hours per week by 2036 in Victoria. Led by qualified early childhood teachers, Pre-Prep aims to enhance socialisation and learning through play for 4 year olds.
Just like 4 year old kindergarten, pre – prep will be free for children at participating kindergarten services.
Pre Prep Roll Out Schedule
In May 2024, it was announced the Pre-Prep roll-out schedule was adjusted to be staged more gradually, with children across Victoria eligible to access up to 30 hours per week of Pre-Prep by 2036.
Pre-Prep will commence in rural and regional local government areas (LGAs) on schedule over the next 4 years, with some adjustments to stage the increases in program hours.
Pre-Prep will commence in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong in 2032 and in metropolitan LGAs in 2034, with staged increases in program hours.
By 2036, all children across Victoria will have access to up to 30 hours of Pre-Prep per week.
The Victorian Government will continue to build new kinders on or near school sites, and kinders at non-government schools. The 50 government-owned and operated early learning and childcare centres will open by 2032.
Priority Group
From 2026, all children across the state identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, children from a refugee or asylum seeker background, and children who have had contact with Child Protection services, can access between 16 and 25 hours of Pre-Prep, and up to 30 hours from 2028.
Operational Policy Settings
The Operational Policy Settings were released in September 2024. These policy settings provide guidance to support operations and service delivery from 2026 and beyond.
Operational policies supporting the Best Start, Best Life reforms | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
Useful Links
The Best Start Best Life reforms – The Best Start, Best Life reforms | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
Pre Prep – Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
Transforming early childhood education together: What we heard what we’re doing report Transforming-early-childhood-together_what-we-heard,-what-we’re-doing.pdf (content.vic.gov.au)
Workforce support What we’re doing to support the workforce | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
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