so do most kids start preschool at 3???

We sent DS to 3yo kinder last year (he turned 4 in July that year) and he's in 4yo kinder now and will be 5&1/2 when he starts school in Feb.

Due to being in a rural area and needing the numbers to make the program run, we were allowed to send DD who turned 3 in may and missed the cut off by 13 days (cut off was April 30 here in Vic). She will attend 3yo kinder again next year.
She has absolutely THRIVED at 3yo kinder I almost feel terrible that she'll have to do it again, but I know she won't be bored as there's always something to do. She was VERY ready to attend. Her sessions are 2.5 hours, one day a week.

seems to vary, depending on where you live in Aust. In my state, i think the thing determining the age is, the kindy is subsidized for the four terms before the child starts school. Say your child is starting school the year they turn five, then they are eligible for four terms of subsidised kindy, during the year they turn four. Bilby started kindy when she was four (birthday in Nov, started in late Jan). She started school in the year she turned five (late Nov), started school in late Jan the next year.

kids must start school by the time they are six, so here, i COULD have held out for another year, if i so chose.

In QLD we don't have 3yo and 4yo kindy, as far as I know. You just go to kindy the year before you start prep. If you don't want to send him he won't be disadvantaged at all, don't worry :) He has lots of school years ahead of him.

we sent ds1 to 3 year old kinder. he has just finished 4 yo kinder and will start prep next year. he really liked 3 yo kinder as he met lots of new friends.
we have decided not to send ds2 to 3yo for next year. he doesnt really need it as he gets heaps of socialisation (mainly with the siblings of the friends that ds1 met at kinder!). it is not compulsory and we feel that ds2 will benefit from an extra year at home - i guess it depends on the individual kid though? he will do 4yo kinder the following year. you don't have to do it if you dont want to. we found that there were quite a few kids who came in at the start of ds1's 4 yo year who hadnt done 3yo.

Thanks so much everyone :) I think we've decided that another year at home will be fine for him, the preschool that I've put him down for does 1/2 days for under 4 If there's demand ie: another mum wants to share a day :) so I have that option anyway.

Since he's a December 30th baby I would have to send him to school at 5, which is funny as if he was born on his due date 3 weeks later I would of had a choice :) though I'm sure when the time comes he won't be the youngest in his class..... I always hated being one of the youngest at school lol :)