More than 3,000 Canberra three-year-olds accessing free preschool as ACT plans expansion

More than 3,000 three-year-old children across Canberra are now accessing up to 300 hours of free preschool each year, with the ACT Government progressing plans to double the universal entitlement to 600 hours.

The latest figures show growing participation in the ACT's Free Three-Year-Old Preschool program, which is now being delivered through more than 150 participating early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across the Territory.

When combined with the ACT's targeted program for children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage, more than 60 per cent of eligible three-year-olds are now accessing government-funded early childhood education.

The ACT's universal program provides eligible three-year-olds with up to 300 hours of free preschool each calendar year.

Rather than establishing a separate network of government preschools for three-year-olds, the program is delivered through participating ECEC services across Canberra.

Funding is provided to services and passed on to families through reduced fees, with the ACT Government estimating participating families are saving an average of $1,329 per child.

Children generally need to be three years old on or before 30 April in the relevant year, live in the ACT and be enrolled at a participating ECEC service to access the universal entitlement.

The preschool program is delivered by degree-qualified early childhood teachers, subject to workforce availability.

Alongside the universal program, another 346 children are accessing early learning through the ACT's targeted Three-Year-Old Initiative.

The targeted program provides two days of free early learning each week for children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.

Combined, the two programs mean more than 60 per cent of eligible three-year-olds in Canberra are now accessing either universal or targeted government-funded early learning.

ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Rachel Stephen-Smith said the milestone demonstrated the impact of investment in children's earliest years.

“More than 3,000 children and families are now benefiting from up to 300 hours of free three-year-old preschool every year,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

She also acknowledged the early childhood professionals delivering the program, highlighting the influence educators can have on children's lives, particularly those experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.

The next phase of the initiative could substantially increase the amount of funded early childhood education available to Canberra's three-year-olds.

The ACT Government has committed to doubling the universal entitlement from 300 to 600 hours, with the expansion expected to be delivered within the next two years.

The change would represent a significant increase in government-funded early learning for families already accessing participating ECEC services.

It will also bring the capacity of the sector into greater focus.

Delivering twice the current number of funded hours will require not only sustainable funding arrangements but sufficient service capacity and an early childhood workforce able to deliver the expanded program.

The ACT Government has already moved to increase financial support for ECEC services participating in the program.

Funding rates for Free Three-Year-Old Preschool increased by 21 per cent in 2026, representing an additional $480 per child.

The increase is intended to support services delivering the preschool entitlement and forms part of the Territory's broader investment in universal access to early childhood education.

The ACT Government has also emphasised the importance of maintaining a qualified workforce as participation increases.

One of the distinctive features of Canberra's approach is the role existing ECEC providers play in delivering the universal three-year-old entitlement.

More than 150 services are participating, embedding funded preschool within children's existing early learning environments rather than requiring families to access a separate preschool setting.

For families, the model can reduce fees while allowing children to remain within familiar services and relationships.

For providers, however, increasing participation and the planned transition from 300 to 600 hours, means workforce capacity, funding and service sustainability will remain critical considerations.

The latest milestone represents more than an affordability measure.

Research consistently demonstrates the importance of children's participation in high-quality early childhood education, with the years before school providing opportunities to support learning, development, wellbeing and social connection.

The ACT's figures suggest government-funded early learning is now reaching a substantial proportion of Canberra's three-year-old population.

With more than 3,000 children accessing the universal program, another 346 participating through the targeted initiative and overall participation exceeding 60 per cent, attention will increasingly turn to the next stage of the reform.

The planned move to 600 hours of free preschool represents a significant expansion and one that will rely heavily on the capacity and capability of Canberra's ECEC services and workforce to deliver it.

Read the announcement here.