Victoria Free Kinder Calculator
Planning your child’s kindergarten journey in Victoria? Use our Victoria Free Kinder Calculator to estimate your weekly out-of-pocket costs when enrolling in a kindergarten program at a long day care centre.
Thanks to the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder initiative, eligible families can access significant fee relief on top of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) when enrolling in a quality kindergarten program delivered in a long day care setting. Great Beginnings is proud to offer government-approved kindergarten programs that combine early learning with the flexibility of long day care.
Our kindergarten subsidy calculator gives you an estimate of:
- How much Free Kinder funding you may receive based on your child’s age and enrolment
- The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you may be eligible for based on your household income and activity level
- Your estimated weekly out-of-pocket costs after both subsidies are applied
This tool is designed to help Victorian families plan ahead and gain a clearer picture of their potential kindergarten savings.
Find out how much Child Care Subsidy you could be entitled to with our quick and easy calculator.
CCS Calculator results
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Step 1: Activity test
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Step 2: Family information & financial state
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Step 3: Children & child care information
Total Fees
$0.00Estimated CCS Fee Subsidy
$0.00Kindergarten/Preschool Subsidy
$0.00Out of Pocket Cost (what you pay)
$0.00Total Fees
$0.00Estimated CCS Fee Subsidy
$0.00Kindergarten/Preschool Subsidy
$0.00Out of Pocket Cost (what you pay)
$0.00Total Fees
$0.00Estimated CCS Fee Subsidy
$0.00Kindergarten/Preschool Subsidy
$0.00Out of Pocket Cost (what you pay)
$0.00Matrix Out of Pocket Cost
Is your CCS working for you? Check the matrix of “Out Of Pocket Cost” per Child at the varying Session lengths and Weekly Days attended below. Please note: The below table only shows out-of-pocket costs after CCS (Child Care Subsidy). It does not include the weekly Kindergarten/Preschool fee subsidy, which may further reduce your fees if eligible.
| Child 1 | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 hour session | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 10 hour session | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 12 hour session | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Please check with your centre as to their full day operating hours so that you can compare above. All G8 Education calculators take into consideration the Federal Government’s 5% withholding in your estimated CCS calculation.
Kindergarten/Preschool subsidy is subject to State Government specific requirements including child age eligibility criteria and the delivery of the funded program by an Early Childhood Teacher on the day the subsidy is claimed by the family. Calculations herein are based on the assumption all eligibility criteria is met. Please contact your Centre Manager for detailed information.
Disclaimer: This calculator is provided as a guide only. It is dependent on the accuracy of information added, including hours the child is eligible for and incomes entered. Changes in entitlements can also occur for a family between completing the estimation and commencing at an Early Education and Care Centre.
How does the Victoria Free Kinder program work?
The Free Kinder program provides families in Victoria with access to government-subsidised early childhood education in the years before school. The initiative supports affordability by offering:
- up to $2,101 per year in fee relief for 3 and 4-year-olds attending long day care kindergarten programs
- funding applied in addition to CCS, not instead of it
These subsidies are applied directly to your service fees, making kindergarten more accessible and affordable for Victorian families. Payments are pro-rated and applied regularly across the year (e.g., weekly or fortnightly), and are applied after Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is calculated. If a child starts after the beginning of the year or leaves before the end, the kindergarten fee relief is adjusted on a pro-rata basis based on their actual enrolment period.
G8 Education centres near you
Am I eligible for Free Kinder?
To be eligible for kindergarten subsidy funding under the Free Kinder program, your child must:
- be 3 or 4 years old and enrolled in a funded kindergarten program
- attend an eligible long day care centre that offers Free Kinder-approved programs
Families must complete a Funded Kindergarten Declaration Form to nominate their chosen service for Free Kinder funding.
Please note that Free Kinder funding can only be claimed at one participating service at any given time.
Find a G8 Education Kindergarten near you
Need help understanding your results?
Our friendly team is here to help. Once you’ve used the calculator, feel free to contact our local centre to discuss your estimate, program options, and how we can support your child’s kindergarten year.