Queensland Government has recently announced $1 billion investment into the early childhood sector over the next four to five years. This will see more families become eligible for free or cheaper kindergarten from 2023, as part of a program to make it more accessible.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the new package will make early education either free or more affordable for 40,000 kids, and would benefit about 70 per cent of families that use kindy.
Thanks to this new funding scheme, all G8 Education centres in Queensland with a funded kindergarten program will offer this new subsidy benefit to families from 2023. Our funded preschool programs provide active play-based learning led by passionate Early Childhood Teachers, along with the convenience of long day care meals and extended hours to fit in with your family’s schedule.
Read on to find out what the latest kindergarten funding reforms mean for your family. Jump to the relevant question by clicking on the quick links below.
What is the new kindergarten funding reform?
Why is this reform needed?
Am I eligible for the affordability subsidy?
How much will I save?
How will I receive the savings?
Is this funding the same as the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy?
What if my centre doesn’t offer a funded kindy program?
Can I receive ACCS and the new affordability subsidy?
Can I receive Kindy Plus and the new affordability subsidy?
What is FTB and why is it used?
What if I become ineligible for the Family Tax Benefit on July 1?
Can I receive the new affordability subsidy across multiple services?
I live in a regional/remote location. What funding will be available to me?
What funding will be available to ensure all children are included in a kindergarten program?
What is the Kindy Uplift Program?
Why families love G8’s kindergarten programs
How do I enrol my child in the kindergarten program offered by G8 centres?
What is the new kindergarten funding reform?
The new 2023 Queensland Kindergarten Funding will replace the existing Queensland Kindergarten Funding Scheme (QKFS) and will see a number of changes introduced which will benefit families.
Families attending your long day care service who receive the Family Tax Benefit will receive a subsidy of $500 per year for every child enrolled in a funded 15-hour kindy program.
Why is this reform needed?
There is growing evidence that quality early childhood education and care give children developmental opportunities and improve school readiness.
Attending a high-quality, teacher-delivered kindergarten program for 600 hours in the year before Prep provides the best chance for children to thrive, particularly for children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.
Am I eligible for the affordability subsidy?
The new Kindy for All program introduces a new affordability subsidy to reduce the cost of kindy for eligible families.
As a family attending a long day care service, your child must be enrolled in a funded 15-hour kindy program and currently receive the Family Tax Benefit to be eligible for this subsidy.
The new reforms have also seen changes to eligibility requirements for other financial support available for families. Your centre manager will be able to help you identify the support available to you.
To be eligible, you must complete this Kinder Enrolment Form. Failure to complete this form will mean you will not receive the subsidy.
You can also check your eligibility by answering a series of questions on the government’s new Kindy Savings website.
How much will I save?
Families eligible for the new affordability subsidy will receive a $500 per year subsidy for every child enrolled in a funded 15-hour kindy program.
If your child is enrolled for only part of the year, or for less than 15 hours, the subsidy amount will be prorated. You can visit the Kindy Savings website to calculate your exact savings based on your family circumstances.
How will I receive the savings?
G8 Education will work with the government to implement the new subsidy in 2023 and we expect it will be paid to families from March as kindergarten enrolments are confirmed for the year.
The annual subsidy will be applied to your account in monthly credit amounts at the beginning of each month from March. This credit will be applied after any Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is paid and appears as a financial credit adjustment in your Xplor account. For example, if your child is eligible for the full $500 subsidy, you will receive approximately $50 credit per month in 2023.
Is this funding the same as the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy?
No. This funding is different, and in addition to, the Child Care Subsidy.
What if my centre doesn’t offer a funded kindy program?
If your centre is unable to recruit an Early Childhood Teacher to deliver the Queensland Government Funded Kindergarten program next year, you will not be eligible to receive the new affordability subsidy of up to $500 per year. You will receive a pro-rated amount once we have successfully recruited a teacher to lead the program.
Can I receive ACCS and the new affordability subsidy?
No. If you are receiving ACCS benefits, you have no out-of-pocket fees, which therefore makes you ineligible for the affordability subsidy.
Can I receive Kindy Plus and the new affordability subsidy?
No. The subsidies will run parallel to each other, however families receiving Kindy Plus will have reduced out-of-pocket expenses as the Kindy Plus subsidy is significantly higher.
The Government is extending the Kindy Plus program to encompass three additional eligible groups.
This includes situations where:
- There is evidence of formal foster or kinship care arrangements
- A child is identified as living in a formal child protection out-of-home care arrangement.
- The family and child have entered Australia under the Australian Government’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program, or are in the process of seeking asylum in Australia and hold a temporary visa until their application for refugee status is determined.
The new Kindy savings website at www.qld.gov.au/Kindysavings may assist you in helping families identify what savings they are eligible for.
What is FTB and why is it used?
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a trusted, well-known and equitable mechanism and measurement tool used by the Australian Government to help low-to-middle income families.
It is means-tested and helps ensure government subsidies are provided to families who need them most to help with the cost of raising a child.
Families eligible for FTB will receive a subsidy of $500 a year for a kindergarten program in long day care. Families may also access the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS), to reduce their kindy fees. Read more about Family Tax Benefit here.
What if I become ineligible for the Family Tax Benefit on July 1?
You will still receive the subsidy for the remainder of the year.
Can I receive the new affordability subsidy across multiple services?
No. These subsidies are only available from one service, which families must nominate.
However, unless your eligibility changes, if you move from one long day care service to another, your kindy subsidies will follow you. If you move from one setting to another e.g sessional kindy to long day care, subsidy amounts will change as different subsidies apply to each service type. Check the kindy savings webpage for more information about eligibility.
I live in a regional/remote location. What funding will be available to me?
Increased funding for regional and remote community and long day care kindergartens will support services to attract and retain qualified early childhood teachers and help with viability.
What funding will be available to ensure all children are included in a kindergarten program?
There is new inclusion funding for kindergartens to better support children with disability, or those who may be developmentally vulnerable.
For long day care, this funding will complement the federally-funded Inclusion Support Program. In addition, an expanded number of kindergarten programs in long day care will receive Kindy Uplift funding to address educational need to improve outcomes for children experiencing vulnerability.
What is the Kindy Uplift Program?
22 Queensland centres across the G8 network have been selected as a part of the Kindy Uplift program pilot to improve early learning outcomes from Term 2 (April) 2022. The Kindy uplift pilot will fund programs, resources, supports and professional development to build educator capability, support inclusion and improve children’s learning and development.
To find out if your centre is a part of the pilot, as well as more information about the program, click here or speak to your centre manager.
Why families love G8’s kindergarten programs
At G8 Education, our kindergarten program provides children with opportunities to practice and learn how to:
- Use language appropriately to communicate their ideas, feelings and needs – strong oral language skills are the basis for literacy learning in school.
- Use numeracy skills through early mathematical play including patterning, counting, sequencing, comparing and sorting shapes, and spatial awareness.
- Develop social skills to make friends and play collaboratively with peers.
- Develop emotional skills including the capability to self-regulate emotions and behaviours.
- Develop motor skills and core strength to participate across the day and to help prepare their body for formal learning in school.
- Become more independent in self-care.
- Creatively express ideas and feelings through art, dance, and dramatic play.
- Develop the confidence to ask and respond to questions, explore, make predictions, and solve problems of interest.
How do I enrol my child in the kindergarten program offered by G8 centres?
Choosing the right program for your child is an important decision for families and we are here to help. To give your child a fantastic head start on their education journey, call into one of our centres in Queensland, book a tour and secure your place.
If you’re already enrolled in one of our Queensland centres, let your centre manager know you’d like to enrol in the kinder program for 2023.
Families must complete this Kinder Enrolment Form to receive the subsidy. Failure to complete this form will mean you will not receive the subsidy. You are only eligible to receive subsidies at one centre at a time. The centre you nominate as your chosen ‘funded kinder program’ on this form will be the centre at which the subsidy is applied.
We look forward to your child continuing their early learning journey with us next year as they take the next leap in their education.