Kinder for Aboriginal children: Koorie Kids Shine

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can access 15 hours per week of free or low-cost kindergarten. From 2026, four-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can access up to 25 hours per week of Pre-Prep.

Benefits of kindergarten

At kindergarten, children learn through play. Play-based learning helps children build the skills they need to do well at school and in life. Research shows early education helps set children up for a bright future.

Kinder helps kids:

build their sense of identity
understand the world around them
learn how to communicate with others
strengthen their physical, social and emotional wellbeing
feel confident in learning and trying new things.

Kindergarten for Koorie Kids

Aboriginal families can access 15 hours per week of free or low-cost Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.

From 2025, Four-Year-Old Kinder is transitioning to Pre-Prep, with kinder programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week.

From 2026, up to 25 hours of Pre-Prep will be available statewide for Victorian children who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This means more hours of learning through play in a safe, inclusive and caring environment.

To check when your child will be eligible to start kindergarten, you can use the starting age calculator(opens in a new window). Use the Pre-Prep calculator(opens in a new window) to find out if your child is eligible to attend Pre-Prep (Four-Year-Old Kindergarten) and when they can start.

Learn more about Three-Year-Old Kindergarten by watching the video below.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/743301361?autoplay=0

View transcript

Respecting cultural identity

Kinder programs work hard to create culturally safe places for Koorie children and families and include Aboriginal perspectives in the learning curriculum and environment. In kinder your child will learn to build their own sense of identity and how their own culture relates to the diversity in the world around them.

“I sent my children to kinder because I wanted them to be ready for school. Kinder made them smart, proud, strong and resilient. Now they’re sending their children too.” – Aunty Esme, a proud Bangerang, Taungurung and Wiradjuri woman.

You can talk with your child’s teacher about your culture and beliefs, and how these can be included in the activities at kinder.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/805811320?autoplay=0

View transcript

What happens at kinder?

At kinder, your child will learn through activities and experiences. These activities will help them build skills they will need for reading, writing and maths when they start school.

At kinder, your child will:

learn through play, art, music and dance
express themselves in a safe, inclusive and caring environment
build skills and confidence.

Why are hours increasing for 4-year-olds

Increasing the hours of play-based learning in the year before school gives children even greater access to the many benefits of early childhood education.

More hours of learning through play each week, through Pre-Prep, can increase children’s early literacy and numeracy, and self-regulation skills.

Teachers and educators will be able to provide deeper and more deliberate play experiences, which will give children opportunities to embed their learning.