• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

Australian Capital Territory: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as preschools or early learning centres
  • are for children who turn 4 in the year before starting school and some 3-year-old children
  • charge no fees but usually ask for a voluntary contribution levy
  • are mostly government owned and run
  • operate close to or on school sites or next to long day care centres.

For more information, visit ACT Department of Education – Enrolling in preschool. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and what else you need to know.

New South Wales: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as preschools
  • are for 3-year-old children and children who turn 4 in the year before starting school
  • charge government-subsidised fees
  • mostly operate as stand-alone services like community preschools or as preschool programs in long day care or early learning centres
  • might be offered as school-based programs attached to government-run primary schools
  • sometimes offer flexible hours for working parents.

For more information, visit NSW Department of Education – Getting ready for preschool. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and how much it costs.

Northern Territory: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as preschools
  • are for 3-year-old children and children who turn 4 in the year before starting school
  • charge no fees or charge government-subsidised fees
  • are mostly attached to schools
  • are mostly government owned and run
  • sometimes offer flexible hours for working parents
  • might offer bus services in some areas.

For more information, visit NT Government – About child care services. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and how much it costs.

Queensland: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as kindergartens
  • are for children who turn 4 in the year before starting school and some 3-year-old children
  • operate as either stand-alone services or in long day care centres run by community organisations or non-government schools
  • charge no fees
  • offer some remote kindergartens, usually at local government schools and distance education services.

For more information, visit Queensland Government – About approved kindergarten programs. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and what else you need to know.

South Australia: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as preschools, kindergartens, early learning centres or centres for early childhood development and parenting
  • are for children who turn 4 in the year before starting school and some 3-year-old children
  • are mostly government owned and run but can be run by community or private organisations
  • can be stand-alone services or located in schools or alongside other early learning services
  • charge no fees.

For more information, visit SA Government Department for Education – Preschool and kindergarten enrolment. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and what else you need to know.

Tasmania: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as kindergartens
  • are for children who turn 4 in the year before starting school and might be available to some 3-year-old children
  • charge no fees
  • are mostly government owned and run
  • are located in schools and linked to the school system.

For more information, visit Tasmanian Department of Education – Starting kindergarten. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and what else you need to know.

Victoria: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as kindergartens
  • are for 3-year-old children and children who turn 4 in the year before starting school
  • are mostly run as stand-alone services or as preschool programs in long day care centres
  • charge no fees or charge government-subsidised fees
  • are often managed by parent committees
  • are offered as mobile services in remote areas.

For more information on preschools in Victoria, visit Victorian Government – Education: Information for parents. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and how much it costs.

Western Australia: preschool services

Preschools:

  • are known as kindergartens
  • are for children who turn 4 in the year before starting school and some 3-year-old children
  • are mostly government owned and run
  • operate within schools and in the community
  • offer bus services
  • charge no fees.

For more information on preschools in Western Australia, visit WA Department of Education – Enrol at a Western Australian school. You can also contact local preschools or early childhood education services to find out who can attend, how many hours they can attend, and what else you need to know.

You’ll need to provide evidence of your child’s immunisation status for preschool enrolment. You can read more about this in our article on immunisation in childhood.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Sign up now to get free parenting news delivered to your inbox.
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2025 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.