WA Launches Free Full-Time Kindergarten Trial at 5 Schools

Five public schools in Western Australia are making history this week as the first in Australia to offer free full-time kindergarten to young learners.

The trial launched this Monday at schools in Perth, Bunbury, and Kalgoorlie, allowing three to five year olds to attend kindy five days a week instead of the current five days per fortnight. Best of all, it's completely free for families.

Crystal Miller, a single mother of four-year-old twin boys, has watched her sons light up with excitement about the change. The twins have been in full-time daycare since they were four months old, and the switch to free kindy will save her family significant money each month.

"This is actually really good for them, and they're ready for all of those next steps," Miller said. Her boys are especially thrilled because friends from daycare are joining them at kindy.

The five pilot schools (Roleystone Community College, Halidon Primary, Banksia Grove Primary, Dalyellup Primary, and South Kalgoorlie Primary) were selected based on existing infrastructure. The state government is funding each school at a full-time rate per student, covering the cost of additional teachers and education assistants needed.

The Ripple Effect

The program's impact reaches far beyond individual families. Premier Roger Cook says the trial will give more children access to high-quality early education while providing working parents crucial flexibility in managing careers and family life.

The $33.8 million investment signals a major shift in how Australia thinks about early childhood education. Five more schools will join the trial next year, with the Office of Early Childhood collecting feedback from parents, teachers, and communities to shape future expansion.

The state reported promising news on Monday: teacher numbers have grown by 3.3 percent compared to last year, adding around 2,000 educators to support programs like this one. These new teachers mean more capacity to deliver quality early education when and where families need it most.

While the program continues as a trial, families at these five schools are already experiencing the difference that accessible, affordable early education can make in their daily lives.