Pre-Prep roll-out schedule
Learn more about the roll-out and when Pre-Prep is available for your child. Pre-Prep starts in 6 local government areas (LGAs) in 2025, and will gradually roll out across the state.
New LGAs will be added to the roll-out each year. The staged schedule allows time to grow the workforce, build the infrastructure, and services to prepare for expanded programs.
Find your local government area.
By roll-out year
Open all
- 2025 roll-out
LGAs launching Pre-Prep in 2025
Between 16 and 30 hours per week
LGAs:
- Ararat Rural City
- Gannawarra Shire
- Hindmarsh Shire
- Murrindindi Shire
- Northern Grampians Shire
- Yarriambiack Shire
- 2026 roll-out
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
-
between 16 and 20 hours per week from 2026
-
between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2031. LGAs:
-
Benalla Rural City
-
Buloke Shire
-
Corangamite Shire
-
East Gippsland Shire
-
Horsham Rural City
-
Loddon Shire
-
Mansfield Shire
-
Mitchell Shire
-
Pyrenees Shire
-
Strathbogie Shire
-
Wangaratta Rural City
-
Wodonga City. 2026 priority groups:
-
children who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
-
children from a refugee or asylum seeker background
-
children who have had contact with Child Protection or are in out of home care
-
children who were supported by Early Start Kindergarten or the Access to Early Learning program for Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. Pre-Prep hours for 2026 priority groups:
-
between 16 and 25 hours per week from 2026
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2028.
- 2027 roll-out
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
-
between 16 and 20 hours per week from 2027
-
between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2031. LGAs:
-
Alpine Shire
-
Central Goldfields Shire
-
Colac-Otway Shire
-
Glenelg Shire
-
Indigo Shire
-
Moira Shire
-
Moorabool Shire
-
Moyne Shire
-
South Gippsland Shire
-
Southern Grampians Shire
-
Swan Hill Rural City
-
West Wimmera Shire
- 2028 roll-out
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
-
between 16 and 20 hours in 2028
-
between 16 and 25 hours from 2029
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2031. LGAs:
-
Bass Coast Shire
-
Baw Baw Shire
-
Campaspe Shire
-
Golden Plains Shire
-
Greater Shepparton City
-
Hepburn Shire
-
Latrobe City
-
Macedon Ranges Shire
-
Mildura Rural City
-
Mount Alexander Shire
-
Queenscliff Borough
-
Surf Coast Shire
-
Towong Shire
-
Warrnambool City
-
Wellington Shire 2028 priority groups:
-
who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
-
from a multiple birth (triplets or more). Pre-Prep hours for 2028 priority groups:
-
between 16 and 25 hours from 2028
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2030.
- 2032 roll-out
Pre-Prep hours for LGAs:
-
between 16 and 25 hours in 2032
-
between 16 and 30 hours from 2033. LGAs:
-
Ballarat
-
Bendigo
-
Geelong
- 2034 roll-out
Pre-Prep hours for Metropolitan Melbourne (all remaining LGAs):
- between 16 and 20 hours per week in 2034
- between 16 and 25 hours in 2035
- between 16 and 30 hours from 2036.
Roll-out hours by year and LGA - overview image
Early childhood education and care
Updated 27 March 2026
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