A guide to kindergarten subsidies in Queensland

Kindergarten is such an important time in children’s development. It helps children prepare for the transition to school, builds literacy, numeracy and language competencies, and allows them to develop their social and communication skills.

To ensure kindergarten is accessible to all children, and affordable for families, there are a number of subsidies available. In this article, we look at the different subsidies and eligibility, so you can understand what may be available to your family.

All approved kindergartens receive subsidies to reduce costs for parents

All services delivering an approved kindergarten program, whether within a sessional kindergarten or long day care setting, receive Queensland Kindergarten Funding Scheme (QKFS) subsidies to support the cost of delivering the program. These funds are used by kindergartens to provide qualified teachers, purchase resources and reduce the expenses for parents. Ultimately, this funding means the fees the kindergarten charges parents are reduced.

QKFS Plus Kindy Support

In sessional kindergartens, QKFS Plus Kindy Support provides additional financial assistance to eligible families to further reduce the cost of kindergarten. To be eligible for the QKFS Plus Kindy Support, you must meet at least ONE of the following criteria:

• hold a current Australian Government Health Care Card (or have a child who does)
• be a foster family with a current Australian Government Health Care Card
• hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card or White Card
• identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (or have a child who does)
• have three or more children, of the same age, enrolled in the same year.

The QKFS Plus Kindy funding is provided directly to your kindergarten provider, who will subtract the amount from the fees of eligible families. It can only be claimed once, even if you meet multiple criteria.

Subsidies available for sessional kindergarten

For children attending sessional kindergarten, additional subsidies may be available in certain areas of the state that meet specific socio-economic or remoteness criteria. Services in these locations receive additional funding to reduce the daily rate of their kindergarten program so that it’s more affordable for local families. In some cases, eligibility for multiple subsidies can make kindergarten very low cost for families.

To find out if you qualify for these subsidies, contact your local kindergarten teacher to discuss your circumstances.

Child care subsidy for long day care kindergarten

If your child attends kindergarten within a long day care centre, you may be eligible to access the Commonwealth Government Child Care Subsidy to reduce the out of pocket costs. Eligibility for the child care subsidy depends on a range of factors, including combined family income and hours worked each week.

Use the handy calculator to get an estimate of the subsidy you may be eligible for.

As with most other subsidies, the child care subsidy is provided directly to your long day care provider who will deduct it from the fees you pay. More information about the eligibility for this subsidy is available from Centrelink.

While there are a range of subsidies available to make kindergarten more affordable for families, we recommend that you discuss your circumstances with your local Catholic Early EdCare kindergarten, and they will be able to provide you with more specific information and advice.

Kindergarten is an important time in every child’s life. At Catholic Early EdCare, our teachers will nurture your child’s love of learning and ensure they develop the skills for a successful transition to prep. Find your nearest kindergarten here.