- New campaign features official SpokesKids telling Queensland that kindy will be free for all families from January 2024
- Free Kindy Finder, a new tool to help families find their local free kindy and enrol, also launched today
- Families set to save up to $4,600 a year
The Palaszczuk Government has today launched a new advertising campaign and finder tool, to make it easy for Queensland families to learn about and enrol in free kindy.
Featuring real Queensland kindy kids as SpokesKids, the campaign will be featured on TV, radio, social, digital and print across the state, with an extra focus in areas where kindy enrolments are low.
It will be available in eight languages other than English and broadcast on targeted media channels including Aboriginal Health TV and non-English speaking radio.
The campaign also promotes the new Free Kindy Finder tool, which makes it simple to search for your nearest kindy and see how to enrol.
The Palaszczuk Government's additional $645 million investment is making kindy free for all Queensland families from 2024. Kindy is the part time educational program the year before Prep: 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year
Currently 14,000 children receive free kindy, and these historic reforms mean more than 50,000 additional children will be able to attend for free.
Free kindergarten is set to save families up to $4,600 per year, putting money back in the pockets of mums, dads, and carers where it's needed.
The additional $645 million will take the total investment in kindergarten to $2 billion over four years and includes extra investment to attract and retain a quality workforce, an expansion of the Kindy Uplift program (which provides targeted resources and professional development to services where children are more likely to experience disadvantage), and a boost to support children with disability and additional needs.
The Palaszczuk Government will also ramp up its Be One of the People our Youngest People Need recruitment campaign, to attract and retain early childhood workers.
Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:
"The early years are critical to a child's future and we want every single Queensland family to know kindy is free, inclusive, and accessible. Who better to spread that message than kindy kids themselves?
"The evidence is clear: kindy counts. There are currently around 8,000 children who are eligible to attend a kindy but don't, and it's time to close that gap.
"Cost cannot be a barrier when it comes to educating young people and free kindy is going to give our youngest Queenslanders a brighter future. We knowthis program will put thousands of dollars back in the pockets of families at a time we know people are doing it tough."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Education Grace Grace:
"Our SpokesKids are 100% correct: kindy is fun, you make new friends, and it helps you learn, so search free kindy Queensland to find your local service and enrol today.
"Since 2016, several Palaszczuk Government initiatives have helped increase the number of early childhood teachers by 50%, from 2,500 to 3,750.
"This year we announced additional investment to attract and retain a quality early childhood workforce, particularly in regional and remote areas, taking the total to $120 million over the next 4 years.
"As well as funding to provide above award wages and relocation and housing support, the Early Childhood Workforce Strategy includes a scholarship scheme, a new First Nations Leadership program, and we're working with universities to develop accelerated degree courses.
"We are also creating a new Queensland Centre for Early Childhood Educator and Learning Development – an Australian first."
Quotes attributable to Lauren Meredith, mum to Bianca Lim, who plays Lucy in the advert:
"Attending kindy has given Bianca a very strong sense of community, a variety of learning opportunities and self-confidence.
"Our educators are some of the best humans you will ever meet and she has been able to get involved in bush kindy (with real tools as she says), outside active play such as the ever popular ninja ropes plus puzzles, playdough, silk worms and a planned visit from the fire brigade…they are always busy!
"We just received her school transition statement from Bianca's lead teacher, which was not only very personal and insightful but also reinforced just how foundational kindy is for kids before they start prep. Actually, this week she even wore her school uniform to give it a test run!"
Quotes attributable to Louise Jackson, CEO of Lady Gowrie:
"Lady Gowrie is well placed to deliver kindergarten in 2024 and welcomes the Queensland Government's free initiative whole-heartedly: investing in free kindergarten is an investment in the future of our State.
"Our doors are open, and our workforce is ready to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to start their kindy learning journey.
"Queensland's Early Childhood Workforce Strategy 2023-27 is to be celebrated and acknowledges the many dedicated educators and teachers who shape the futures of our youngest learners."
