Free Kinder in Victoria 2026 — what Berwick families need to know

If you have a child approaching kindergarten age and you live in Berwick, Narre Warren South, Officer, Clyde North, Cranbourne North, Hampton Park, Hallam or anywhere across the Casey region, the Victorian Government's Free Kinder initiative is one of the most important things to understand before you enrol. Put simply: for eligible children, the government pays for up to 15 hours of kindergarten per week — and families pay nothing for those hours. My Stars Early Learning Berwick is an approved provider, which means your child could access a full week of quality kinder at no cost.

What exactly is Free Kinder?

Free Kinder is a Victorian Government program that funds kindergarten places for children in the year before school (4-year-old kinder) and, from 2023 onwards, for 3-year-old kinder as well. The funding covers up to 15 hours per week for 4-year-old programs and up to 5 hours per week for 3-year-old programs at approved providers. The program is part of a broader state government investment in early childhood education, recognising that high-quality kinder in the years before school delivers measurable, long-term benefits for children — especially in their literacy, numeracy and social development.

The program runs at approved services, which means not every childcare or kinder centre participates. My Stars Berwick is a fully approved Free Kinder provider. Families who enrol in our 4-year-old program (the Orange Room) and our 3-year-old program (the Green Room) can access the full funded hours without paying for that time.

Who qualifies in 2026?

• Children who will turn 4 before 30 April 2026 are eligible for the 4-year-old program (up to 15 funded hours per week)
• Children who will turn 3 before 30 April 2026 are eligible for the 3-year-old program (up to 5 funded hours per week)
• The child must be enrolled at a Victorian Government-approved Free Kinder provider
• There is no income test — Free Kinder is available to all eligible families regardless of household income
• My Stars Berwick participates in both the 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs

How Free Kinder works alongside your fees

One of the most common questions we hear from families in Berwick and the surrounding suburbs is how Free Kinder interacts with their regular childcare fees. The short answer is: the Free Kinder hours are deducted from your fee statement before any other calculation. If your child's program includes 15 funded hours and they attend 25 hours per week, you are only paying gap fees for the remaining 10 hours — and on those hours, Child Care Subsidy (CCS) may also apply, reducing your out-of-pocket cost further.

This layering of Free Kinder and CCS can significantly reduce what families actually pay for quality, approved kinder. Families from Narre Warren, Beaconsfield, Harkaway and Endeavour Hills have found that their full-week childcare cost drops substantially once both programs are applied correctly. The exact saving depends on your household income and hours of care, but our team will always work through the numbers honestly with you before you commit.

Free Kinder at My Stars Berwick — step by step

1. Contact My Stars Berwick to enquire about availability and your child's program eligibility
2. We confirm your child's age and enrolment in the correct Free Kinder approved program
3. You complete enrolment and provide your child's CRN (Customer Reference Number from Centrelink) if applicable
4. We claim the Free Kinder funding from the Victorian Government on your behalf — you do not need to apply separately
5. Your weekly fee statement reflects the Free Kinder credit applied against the funded hours
6. Any hours beyond the funded amount are billed at the centre's regular daily rate, minus any CCS entitlement

Families across the Casey region — are you close enough?

My Stars Berwick sits in the heart of one of Melbourne's fastest-growing corridors. We regularly welcome families from Narre Warren South, Narre Warren North, Officer, Officer South, Clyde North, Clyde, Cranbourne North, Cranbourne East, Beaconsfield, Harkaway, Hampton Park, Hallam, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst and Pakenham. Most families find that the drive to Berwick from these suburbs is manageable as part of a morning routine — especially when they're also heading towards Berwick station, the Princes Freeway or Monash Freeway for their commute.

If you're unsure whether My Stars Berwick is practical for your family's drop-off route, the best thing to do is call us and have a conversation. Many of our families were initially unsure about the drive and now wouldn't consider anywhere else. The quality of our programs, the consistency of our team and the warm family culture matter more to most families than saving five minutes on the commute.

Common questions from Casey region families

Do I still need to pay anything if my child gets Free Kinder?

For the funded hours, you pay nothing. For any hours beyond the funded amount, the centre's regular fees apply. CCS may reduce those further depending on your family's income and work/study/training activity.

Does Free Kinder only apply at standalone kinder centres?

No. Free Kinder applies at approved long day care centres like My Stars Berwick, not just standalone kindergartens. This is an important distinction — it means your child can access the funded hours as part of a full day of care, which suits families where both parents work.

What if my child is not yet 3?

The youngest rooms at My Stars Berwick (the White Room and Rainbow Room) care for children from birth to approximately 2.5 years. These rooms are not covered under Free Kinder, but Child Care Subsidy applies and can reduce your fees significantly. When your child turns 3, they move to the Green Room and Free Kinder hours kick in.