Pre-Prep roll-out schedule

Pre-Prep starts in 6 local government areas (LGAs) in 2025, and will gradually roll out across the state.

New LGAs will be added to the roll-out each year. The staged schedule allows time to grow the workforce, build the infrastructure, and services to prepare for expanded programs.

Find your local government area.

By roll-out year

LGAs launching Pre-Prep in 2025
Upto 30 hours/week
LGAs:
- Ararat Rural City
- Gannawarra Shire
- Hindmarsh Shire
- Murrindindi Shire
- Northern Grampians Shire
- Yarriambiack Shire
Maximum hours for LGAs:
- Up to 20 hours in 2026
- Up to 25 hours in 2029
- Up to 30 hours by 2031
LGAs:
- Benalla Rural City
- Buloke Shire
- Corangamite Shire
- East Gippsland Shire
- Horsham Rural City
- Loddon Shire
- Mansfield Shire
- Mitchell Shire
- Pyrenees Shire
- Strathbogie Shire
- Wangaratta Rural City
- Wodonga Rural City.
Priority groups (up to 25 hours per week):
- Children who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Children from a refugee or asylum seeker background
- Children who have had contact with Child Protection.
Maximum hours for priority groups:
- 15 hours in 2025
- Up to 25 hours in 2026
- Up to 30 hours by 2028.
Maximum hours for LGAs:
- Up to 20 hours in 2027
- Up to 25 hours in 2029
- Up to 30 hours by 2031
LGAs:
- Alpine Shire
- Central Goldfields Shire
- Colac-Otway Shire
- Glenelg Shire
- Indigo Shire
- Moira Shire
- Moorabool Shire
- Moyne Shire
- South Gippsland Shire
- Southern Grampians Shire
- Swan Hill Rural City
- West Wimmera Shire
Maximum hours for LGAs:
- Up to 20 hours in 2028
- Up to 25 hours in 2029
- Up to 30 hours by 2031
LGAs:
- Bass Coast Shire
- Baw Baw Shire
- Campaspe Shire
- Golden Plains Shire
- Greater Shepparton City
- Hepburn Shire
- Latrobe City
- Macedon Ranges Shire
- Mildura Rural City
- Mount Alexander Shire
- Queenscliff Borough
- Surf Coast Shire
- Towong Shire
- Warrnambool City
- Wellington Shire
Priority groups (up to 25 hours per week):
- who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
- from a multiple birth (triplets or more).
Maximum hours for priority groups:
- 15 hours in 2025
- Up to 25 hours in 2028
- Up to 30 hours by 2030.
Maximum hours for LGAs:
- Up to 25 hours in 2032
- Up to 30 hours by 2033
LGAs:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Geelong
Maximum hours for Metropolitan Melbourne (all remaining LGAs):
- Up to 20 hours in 2034
- Up to 25 hours in 2035
- Up to 30 hours by 2036

View the image below for the roll-out hours by year and LGA

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Early childhood

Updated 11 April 2025