Subsidising the cost of kindergarten during a cost-of-living crisis has been a flying success according to local industry experts.
Regional manager of Evolve Early Education, Stacey Moore said the state government’s free kindy program was “definitely helpful to families” who could now avoid forking out large sums for their children to attend kindergarten.
Over 60,000 children state-wide are eligible for the free kindy scheme.
Initially, some childcare directors expressed concerns over the possibilities of a sudden enrolment influx, which, mixed with staff shortages, would lead to an overwhelmed system.
But Ms Moore said there had been a steady and manageable increase in enrolment since 1 January 2024, when the scheme came into effect.
She said enrolment wasn’t at concerningly low levels prior to the free kindy scheme, but there had been a slight boost since it started.
“Each service is different, but across the board I think it’s helped kindy enrolment,” she said.
“It’s not a dramatic impact, but there’s been a slight increase.”
The state government invested $120 million dollars into the early learning sector to partially fund staff-training.
Local educators were concerned the subsidy would completely miss its target market of low-socio economic families with children not attending kindergarten.
The government’s response to this was to launch a massive awareness campaign, which included help from The Wiggles.
While The Wiggles toured Queensland in late 2023, they spread the word on stage and across social media platforms, encouraging families to search and find their nearest free kindy program.
They performed for more than 33,000 families throughout the state.
The free kindy scheme provides free care for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks of the year, per child which can save parents can save up to $4600 a year.
Kindergarten is for children in the year before they head into Prep – they must be four years old by 30 June in the year they start.
Ms Moore representing Browns Plains Cubby Care said kindergarten was crucial for children’s development.
“We know that zero to five are the most crucial times of children’s development and not just cognitively, but socially and emotionally,” she said.
“Building relationships with their educators and other children is so important.
“Getting them ready for the transition to school, or even just the transition from breaking away from mum and dad or whoever, is very important.
“It’s about building resilience, self-regulation. and learning how to make decisions on their own.”
The free kindy scheme has a $645 million investment behind it to keep it running until 2028.
The government’s own survey of around 6400 people found 98 per cent believed free kindy would help their family.
Children can access free kindy regardless of whether they attend a community kindergarten or kindy in a long day care.
The total amount a family can save depends on where and how they attend kindy.
