Queensland Kindergarten Funding

Queensland Kindergarten Funding is designed to help you cover the cost of implementing and delivering an approved kindergarten program.

If you satisfy the criteria, you will:

receive funding
be recognised as an approved kindergarten program provider
be able to access promotional materials to advertise your status as an approved program provider.

You can use the funding to:

supplement the salary of a qualified kindergarten teacher
purchase resources to support the delivery of the learning program
reduce expenses for parents.

This guide explains what you need to do to qualify and apply for kindergarten funding, as well as the different subsidies that are available.

Qualifying and applying for Queensland Kindergarten Funding

You can apply for Queensland Kindergarten Funding if you run a:

sessional kindergarten service
kindergarten service operated by a non-state school
limited hours care service
long day care service.

There are different application processes for:

kindergarten services (including limited hours care services)
long day care services.

Kindergarten services (including limited hours care services)

To access Queensland Kindergarten Funding, your service must:

be an approved kindergarten program provider
not be eligible for Child Care Subsidy payments on behalf of eligible families for the duration of the kindergarten program
hold a current service approval under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 or Education and Care Services Act 2013 (Qld)
hold appropriate public liability insurance of at least $10 million
offer an approved kindergarten program delivered by an eligible early childhood teacher with approved qualifications
have a kindergarten program fee that is below the Department of Education's funding threshold to opt into free kindy
be a member of a central governing body.

Apply for funding

Find out more information including how to register and apply via the QGrants system.

Long day care services

To access Queensland Kindergarten Funding, long day care services must:

be an approved kindergarten program provider
be approved to receive Child Care Subsidy payments on behalf of eligible families
hold a current service approval under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2011 (Qld)
hold appropriate public liability insurance of at least $10 million
offer an approved kindergarten program delivered by an eligible early childhood teacher with approved qualifications
have a kindergarten program fee that is not more than the daily fee charged for 3 to 5 year old children not accessing an approved kindergarten program
have a kindergarten program fee that is below the Department of Education's funding threshold to opt into free kindy
enter into an agreement with the Department of Education.

Apply for funding

Find out more information including how to register and apply via the QGrants system.

Also consider...

Support your operational planning and implementation with Funding Essentials for long day care service providers or Funding Essentials for sessional kindergartens.
Find contact details that can help you access information about child care in Queensland, including helpful websites, email addresses and hotlines.
Learn more about approved kindergarten programs in Queensland.
Read about the legal requirements for child care providers in Queensland.
Find out more about scholarships and grants for the child care and education industry.

Queensland Kindergarten Funding subsidies

Services that have opted into free kindy qualify for a base subsidy. Additional subsidies may be available depending on your circumstances. These subsidies must be passed on to families

Base subsidy

Eligible services receive a base subsidy for every child enrolled in an approved 600-hour kindergarten program. Services must ensure the kindergarten program fee for eligible children is not more than the daily fee charged for 3 to 5 year old children not accessing an approved kindergarten program.

Kindergarten services – read the table of amounts that can be claimed (PDF, 48KB).

Long day care services – read the table of amounts that can be claimed (PDF, 52KB).

Gap fee/free kindy subsidy

Eligible services that have opted into free kindy receive a gap fee/free kindy subsidy for each eligible child enrolled in an approved kindergarten program which covers the parent fee component of the kindergarten program for at least 15 hours a week for 40 weeks, or 600 hours a year.

Inclusion subsidy

This subsidy applies for all services that are approved to deliver a kindergarten program and helps services to improve their inclusive practices so that children of all identities and abilities are welcome at kindy.

Targeted subsidies

Targeted subsidies are also available to services:

service location subsidy – targets teacher attraction and retention in outer regional, remote and very remote areas. This subsidy only applies for services that have opted into free kindy.
educational need grant – or Kindy Uplift – to improve educational outcomes for each child. This subsidy applies for all services that are approved to deliver a kindergarten program.

Per capita subsidy

The per capita subsidy is provided to services approved to deliver a kindergarten program who have not opted into free kindy.

Also consider...

Find contact details that can help you access information about child care in Queensland, including helpful websites, email addresses and hotlines.
Learn more about approved kindergarten programs in Queensland.
Read about the legal requirements for child care providers.
Find out more about scholarships and grants for the child care and education industry.