ACT Preschool
Free 15 hours/week of preschool for 4-year-olds — and rolling out for 3-year-olds.
program
Preschool
hours per week
15 hours/week
hours per year
600 hours/year
4-year-old age cutoff
turning 4 by 30 April of the preschool year
3-year-old access
yes
cost
$0 at public school preschools. voluntary contributions may apply.
eligibility
all ACT children meeting the age cutoff
delivery
ACT public schools (preschool attached to primary schools) and participating community services
how to enrol
apply through Access Canberra's Enrolment system (usually Term 2 of the year before preschool)
3-year-old program
3-year-old preschool is being rolled out progressively — by 2030 all ACT 3-year-olds will have access to 15 hours/week of free preschool
important notes
- •ACT 3-year-old preschool rollout began in 2026 — eligibility is expanding year by year
- •preschools are part of the primary school they're attached to — preschool enrolment is co-ordinated with the school
authority: ACT Education Directorate
check the official pagecompare all states
free kinder and preschool programs across Australia
information sourced from ACT Education Directorate. state programs are updated regularly — always confirm current rules on the official page before enrolling. mini mode is not affiliated with any state education department.