From 2025, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten in Victoria will gradually transition to Pre-Prep, with programs increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week by 2036.
Led by qualified teachers, the increase in hours through Pre-Prep will give 4-year-old children more opportunities to socialise and learn through play.
Pre-Prep will launch in 6 LGAs in regional Victoria in 2025, and will gradually roll out across the state.
The staged schedule allows time to grow the necessary workforce and build the infrastructure required, and for services to prepare for expanded programs. New LGAs will start to deliver Pre-Prep each year:
- From 2025 through to 2028, Pre-Prep will roll-out in all Victorian regional LGAs (except Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong).
- From 2032, Pre-Prep will begin in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
- From 2034, Pre-Prep will begin in Metropolitan Melbourne.
Pre-Prep will also be rolled out to the below priority groups across Victoria:
- From 2026, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from a refugee or asylum seeker background, and children who have had contact with Child Protection will have access to Pre-Prep. Children supported by Access to Early Learning to attend Three-Year-Old Kindergarten will also be eligible.
- From 2028, children who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card, and children from a multiple birth (triplets or more) will have access to Pre-Prep.
See the roll-out map and link to full roll-out schedule below, which also outlines how many hours are available and when.
- Pre-Prep roll-out map (digital banner) (PNG, 84.8KB)(opens in a new window)
- Roll-out map GIF(opens in a new window)
Resources
- Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep(opens in a new window): for information about Pre-Prep and the roll-out schedule. You can also find a calculator here that families can use to check their child’s eligibility for Pre-Prep.
Updated