The Victorian Government is investing $14 billion in the Best Start, Best Life reforms. These reforms aim to improve early learning for Victorian children through high quality education programs.
Research from around the world shows that more hours in early learning settings helps children develop:
- stronger language skills
- early reading and number skills
- more independence
- better focus and concentration.
The reforms include:
- Free Kindergarten for all eligible 3- and 4-year-old children
- Three-Year-Old Kindergarten with hours increasing to 15 per week by 2029
- Pre-Prep with hours increasing to 30 per week by 2034
- 50 new Early Learning Centres in the areas that need them most
- New and upgraded kindergartens across Victoria, including kindergartens on school sites (KOSS)
- More investment in the kindergarten workforce to attract and support quality teachers and educators.
2026 Priority Children and Pre-Prep
From 2026, some priority children can access the Pre-Prep program. These children can attend between 16 and 25 hours of 4-year-old kindergarten each week. The number of hours will depend on the kindergarten.
Children are eligible if they:
- are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- are from a refugee or asylum seeker background
- have had contact with Child Protection, now or in the past.