If you've ever Googled 'what's the difference between kindy and preschool' and come away more confused than when you started, you're not imagining things. In Australia, these two terms often mean the same thing, and sometimes they don't, depending entirely on which state you live in.
Here's the clear answer you're looking for, broken down by state, with ages, hours and everything else you need to know before enrolment season sneaks up on you.
Kindergarten and preschool in Australia: the short answer
There’s no universal national difference between kindergarten and preschool in Australia. Both terms describe early childhood education programs offered to children in the year before they begin primary school, usually at age 4 or 5. However, the name used depends on where you live.
Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia tend to use 'kindergarten' or 'kindy'. NSW, South Australia, the ACT and the NT generally use 'preschool'. Tasmania uses 'kindergarten', but confusingly, their program is for children turning 5, which puts it closer in age to what other states call the final year of preschool.
Regardless of what it's called, all programs across Australia are governed by the National Quality Framework (NQF) and must be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher in line with the Early Years Learning Framework V2 (EYLF). So while the name on the tin varies, the standard of what's inside should be consistent.
What age does kindergarten or preschool start in Australia?
Most programs are designed for children aged 4 to 5 in the year before they start school, but the specific age cutoff varies by state. Some states also now offer programs for 3-year-olds.
Here's a full state-by-state breakdown.
| State/territory | What it's called | Age requirement | Hours per week | Free/subsidised |
| Queensland | Kindergarten / Kindy | Turns 4 by 30 June (year before school) | 15 hrs x 40 weeks | Free (from 1 Jan 2024 for eligible children) |
| New South Wales | Preschool | Turns 4 by 1 August (year before school) | Varies by service | CCS applies; some free programs |
| Victoria | Kindergarten / Kinder | 3 turning 4 (Three-Year-Old Kinder); 4 turning 5 (Pre-Prep) | 5–15 hrs/week | Free for 3 and 4 year olds at participating services |
| Australian Capital Territory | Preschool / Early Learning Centre | Turns 4 by 30 April (year before school) | Varies | CCS applies |
| South Australia | Preschool | Turns 4 by 1 May (start of year); mid-year intake for birthdays 1 May–31 Oct | 15 hrs/week (4 terms) | Government preschool is free |
| Western Australia | Kindergarten | Turns 4 by 30 June (year of kindy) | 15 hrs/week | Government kindergarten is free |
| Tasmania | Kindergarten | Turns 5 by 1 January (year before school) | 15 hrs/week (2–3 days) | CCS applies |
| Northern Territory | Preschool | Turns 4 by 30 June (year before school) | Varies | CCS applies; remote programs from age 3 |
How kindergarten and preschool work across Australia
Queensland
In Queensland, the program is called kindergarten or kindy. Children who turn 4 by 30 June in the year before they start school are eligible. Programs run for 15 hours a week over 40 weeks, which is the equivalent of a full school year. From 1 January 2024, kindy has been free for eligible children attending an approved program. Both dedicated kindy services and long day care centres can deliver the program.
New South Wales
NSW calls it preschool, and it's available to children who turn 4 before 1 August in the year before starting school. Preschools operate across a range of settings including community-based preschools, long day care services, mobile preschools, family day care services, and NSW Department of Education preschools. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) applies, and some government-funded programs are available at reduced or no cost.
Victoria
Victoria has two programs running concurrently, which is where it gets interesting. Three-Year-Old Kindergarten (also called Pre-Kinder in some settings) offers 5 to 15 hours per week for eligible 3-year-olds. Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (now often called Pre-Prep) offers 15 hours per week for children in the year before school. Both are free at participating services under the Victorian Government's Free Kinder initiative, which has been in place since 2023.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT calls the program preschool or early learning centre, and it's available to children who turn 4 by 30 April in the year before starting school. After preschool, ACT children then complete a kindergarten program as their first year of primary school, which is why the ACT is one of the few places where 'kindergarten' means something different to the rest of the country.
South Australia
SA calls it preschool and runs it as a 4-term program. Children who turn 4 by 1 May can start at the beginning of the year. A mid-year intake exists for children whose birthdays fall between 1 May and 31 October, allowing them to start at the beginning of Term 3. Government preschool in SA is free, and children are entitled to 4 terms of government preschool regardless of when they begin.
Western Australia
In WA, it's kindergarten, and all children are entitled to 15 hours per week. Children must be 4 years old by 30 June in the year they start kindergarten, meaning some will actually be 3 when they begin. Kindergarten is offered at government schools, community kindergartens and some childcare services. Government kindergarten in WA is free.
Tasmania
Tasmania's approach is slightly different to other states. Kindergarten in Tasmania is for children turning 5 by 1 January in the year before they start school, making Tasmanian kindy children a year older than their counterparts in most other states. Programs run for at least 15 hours a week across 2 to 3 days, and focus on numeracy, language and social skills through play-based learning.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory calls it preschool, and most programs are attached to a school, though some long day care centres also deliver the program. Children aged 4 who turn 4 between 1 January and 30 June can start in Term 1. Children in remote communities may be able to attend from age 3 if they're accompanied by a parent or guardian until they reach 3 years and 6 months. CCS applies across NT preschool settings.
Is kindy or preschool compulsory in Australia?
In most states and territories, kindy and preschool are not legally compulsory. The exception is Queensland, where kindergarten became compulsory for all eligible children from 2024.
That said, the evidence for attending is strong. Research consistently shows that quality early childhood education improves outcomes in language, literacy, numeracy and social development well into primary school. The Australian Government's investment in preschool through the Preschool Reform Agreement reflects this. In fact, it's the reason why programs in most states are free or low-cost.
The short version: you don't have to send your child, but most families who do are glad they did.
Is kindergarten free in Australia?
It depends on the state and the type of service. Government-run preschools in SA, WA and the ACT are generally free. Victoria and Queensland have made kindy free for eligible children at approved services. In NSW and the NT, the Child Care Subsidy applies, which means many families pay little to nothing depending on their income and the number of hours their child attends.
If your child attends a kindy or preschool program within a long day care centre, CCS may apply to the full day's fees even if only the kindy hours are the main reason you're there.
Tip: Use the Care for Kids CCS Calculator to estimate your out-of-pocket costs.
Finding a kindy or preschool near you
Once you know what you're looking for, the next step is finding the right service for your child and your family. Programs fill up quickly in most areas; some services have waiting lists that stretch 12 to 18 months out, so it's worth starting your search earlier than you think you need to.
Care for Kids makes it easy to search for approved preschool and kindergarten programs by suburb or postcode, compare services, and read reviews from other families.
Simply enter your location below, and filter by 'Preschool/Kindergarten' to see what's available near you.
