The Queensland government has now given families a tool to see if they're eligible for free or cheaper kindergarten from next year, as part of a program to make it more accessible.
In February, the state government announced a $1 billion investment into the early childhood sector over the next four to five years.
The savings for families will come into effect from January 2023.
Education Minister Grace Grace said early education was critical to a child's future, and she wanted to see 100 per cent of children attend kindergarten.
"I do not want a single family to not be able to go to kindy because they are struggling with costs," she said.
The scheme will offer 40,000 families free or cheaper kindy, and now you can find out if you're eligible.
"We'd be making kindy free for 14,000 of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and cheaper for another 26,000," Ms Grace said.
"That means of the 58,000 families with kids in kindy, 70 per cent of them will see a reduction in their fees."
Single mother Melissa Latter, whose four-year-old daughter Grace will start kindy next year, said the savings would be a welcome help as living costs continue to rise.
"Childcare costs are very expensive — we're typically spending thousands of dollars each year and I'm sure many families around Queensland can relate to those costs as well. It's a big portion of our overall expenses as well," she said.
"I can see the developmental benefits and growth in confidence that the kindy experience provides, so it would be wonderful if these savings allow more children to participate in a kindy program.
"I'm sure many families will find that reduction in fees particularly useful in their overall budgets."
So, who is eligible?
Ms Grace said the saving would target low to middle income families.
Families can check their eligibility by answering a series of questions on the government's new Kindy Savings website.
How do I receive the kindy savings?
Ms Grace said kindy savings or subsidies would be passed on to families by their providers, so you need to contact them.
"Now is the time to talk to your kindy provider so that they can calculate with you what your savings will be," she said.
"They will be able to pass that on to the families most in need."
How much could you be saving?
Ms Grace said some families would be able to save thousands of dollars a year.
"For example, a family that earns $60,000 and holds an Australian Government Health Care Card will benefit from free sessional kindy. That will save an average of $4,500 a year," she said.
"If your child attends kindy in a long day care, you have a family income of up to $130,000 and receive Family Tax Benefit, you will save around $500 a year."
What's the difference in long and sessional care?
Long day care runs at least 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday, over at least 48 weeks a year.
It also provides a kindergarten program and care over extended hours.
Sessional kindy runs only during school terms within school hours, for 40 weeks a year. It does not provide extended hours of care.
What providers are part of the program?
Ms Grace said the government has been working with over 2,000 kindy providers.
"We have worked with them to ensure that the package and the funding is targeted to ensure that costs weren't a barrier for families," she said.
"We can remove that as best we can and provide the targeted savings that will make that kindy accessible for those families."
The government website advises families to contact their local childcare service and ask whether they offer a government approved kindergarten program.
How do providers benefit?
The government is also offering $38.5 million in funding to attract and retain remote and regional childhood teachers.
"Around 300 eligible remote and regional community kindergartens and long daycare centres, that offer kindy, will receive a funding boost for things like accommodation assistance, relocation costs for early childhood teachers," Ms Grace said.
The number of kindy providers that are part of a program called Kindy Uplift — which helps support the development needs of children — will also be doubled.
"That is an additional 500 centres, from the current 400 who will receive additional funds for targeted assistance when they have identified a need in that child," she said.
"For example, a speech therapist and occupational therapist will be able to come in and assist that centre so that every child gets a great start."
What age do kids start kindy?
In Queensland, children who are at least four-years old by June 30 can attend kindy.
"It all starts in 2023 — now is the time to enrol your child," Ms Grace said.
Families can put their children on a waiting list and can enrol at least six months before they are due to start.
Ms Grace said in the last decade kindy attendance has risen from 28 per cent to 95 per cent.
"Now we want to target that additional 5 per cent, we want 100 per cent of kids to go to kindy," she said.
