Welcome back to The Service Desk.
Before we get into this week’s issue, I want to start with a thank you.
The feedback we received after last week’s edition was extraordinary. Messages from operators across the country telling us the briefing helped them think more clearly about their risk and their next move.
That’s exactly why we built The Service Desk.
To give operators practical, commercially useful intelligence they can act on.
This week, we’re focusing on something just as important: money that many services are leaving on the table.
There are dozens of open funding programs right now covering workforce, training, inclusion and infrastructure. Many services are eligible. Far fewer are applying.
In this issue, we’ve mapped the opportunities you should be looking at today, what they could mean financially, and how to build a system that captures funding consistently.
Let’s get into it.
Sam Benjamin
Chair, The Desktop
Grants
Are you missing out on funding?
Funding you need to apply for today
Between federal programs and state initiatives, there are more than 25 distinct funding streams a typical centre-based service could be eligible for. We have listed some below you may not know about.
These are open, funded programs with published eligibility criteria and application pathways.
Take a look, and make sure your centre applies for everything you are eligible for.
Examples of funding opportunities.
And what they could mean for your service.
Program | What it funds | 60-place service | 100-place service | More info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inclusion Support Program (ISP) | Free Inclusion Agency advice, specialist equipment library and IDF grants for additional educators. Open to LDC, OSHC and FDC. | $15,000–$50,000/yr per child supported | $25,000–$80,000/yr (multiple children) | |
Professional Development Subsidy | Wage subsidy per educator while staff complete mandatory child safety training. Based on award rates + 25% casual loading. Applications expected Q2 2026. | $5,000–$10,000/yr per service | $8,000–$16,000/yr per service | |
NSW ECEC Scholarship Program (NSW only) | Up to $35,000 per educator (ECT degree) or $6,000 per educator (VET Diploma). $27M total program for ~2,000 scholarships across two rounds. | $6,000–$35,000 per educator | $6,000–$35,000 per educator | |
Building Early Education Fund | $1B total program: $500M grants + $500M build-own-lease. Capital grants to NFP providers. Small-scale round closes 29 May 2026. | $500,000+ per project (NFP only) | $500,000+ per project (NFP only) | |
SA 3-Year-Old Preschool Rollout (SA only) | $339.7M total program over 5 years (not per service). Preschool Boost per-child funding and Quality Uplift grants for partner LDC services. | $30,000–$60,000/yr per service | $50,000–$100,000/yr per service | |
Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA) | Federal-state funding for 600 hrs/yr preschool by qualified ECT. $3B+ total program nationally. Flows to services via state funding. Extended to end 2027. | $20,000–$50,000/yr per service | $35,000–$80,000/yr per service | |
VIC ECT Individual Incentives (VIC only) | $9,000 pre-tax per educator taking a funded kindergarten role. Separate scholarship streams for Cert III to Diploma and degree pathways. | $9,000–$18,000 per service (2–3 ECTs) | $18,000–$36,000 per service (3–4 ECTs) | |
Paid Practicum Subsidy | Covers paid leave per educator completing mandatory practicum placements. New round expected 2026–27. | $3,000–$8,000 per placement | $3,000–$8,000 per placement | |
NSW Disability & Inclusion Program (NSW only) | Additional educator funding at $27.57/hr per educator for up to 600 hrs/child/yr. Inclusive Environments capital grants up to $5,000 per service. | $16,500/yr per child | $16,500/yr per child |
Note: Figures are estimates based on published program details and typical staffing profiles. Actual amounts will vary by service circumstances, location, staffing mix and application outcomes. State-specific programs apply only within the relevant jurisdiction. Where a total program figure is shown (e.g. $84M, $339.7M), this is the total funding pool available nationally or state-wide, not a per-service amount.
Connect it to your QIP.
Grant applications are stronger when they connect to documented improvement priorities. Your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) already identifies where the service needs investment (ACECQA, 2023).
Linking grant applications to QIP goals strengthens the application by demonstrating strategic alignment. It creates evidence of reinvestment for Assessment and Rating.
Building a system, not chasing grants.
The money is there. Your service has every reason to go and get it
Run an operational cost scan.
Map your current cost pressures across staffing, training, compliance, inclusion and infrastructure.
Assign ownership.
Appoint a funding lead with defined responsibilities: monitoring opportunities, tracking deadlines, preparing applications. This does not need to be a full-time role, but it must be owned.
Link funding triggers to operational checkpoints.
New trainee hired: check wage incentives. Staff member starting a Diploma: check state scholarships. Child with additional needs enrolled: contact your Inclusion Agency.
Get ahead.
Work one quarter ahead of grant deadlines and schedule funding reviews alongside your budgeting process.
Be prepared.
Before you apply, gather your service approval details (Provider ID, SE number), current staffing profile, most recent Assessment and Rating outcome, and your QIP. Most applications ask for evidence of strategic alignment, financial need and operational readiness.
Appendix: Complete funding reference
The tables below cover every identified federal and state program, with eligibility, funding details and direct links to application or program pages.
Federal programs
Program | Level | Who can apply | What it pays | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) + 3 Day Guarantee | Fed | Families via approved providers | Up to 90% of fees. Min 72 hrs/fortnight from Jan 2026. $426.7M total program over 5 yrs. | |
Additional CCS (ACCS) | Fed | At-risk families via approved providers | Top-up covering most/all fees. 4 categories: child wellbeing, hardship, transition to work, grandparent. | |
Worker Retention Payment (15% wage subsidy) | Fed | CBDC & OSHC approved providers | $3.6B total program. 15% above award (10% from Dec 2024, +5% from Dec 2025). Covers the gender wage increase/award review. Apply by 30 Sep 2026. | |
CCCF Restricted Expansion | Fed | First Nations communities (by invitation) | $29.9M total program for services in vulnerable communities. | |
Building Early Education Fund | Fed | NFP providers | $1B total: $500M capital grants + $500M build-own-lease. Small-scale round closes 29 May 2026. | |
Inclusion Support Program (ISP) | Fed | All CCS-approved services (excl. IHC) | Free Inclusion Agency support, equipment library, IDF grants per child. Contact your state Inclusion Agency to apply. | |
Connected Beginnings | Fed | First Nations communities | Place-based grants integrating ECEC, health & family support. Closing the Gap. | |
Preschool Reform Agreement | Fed + State | States (flows to eligible providers) | $3B+ total nationally for 600 hrs/yr preschool by qualified ECT. Extended to end 2027. | |
Professional Development Subsidy | Fed | All CCS-approved providers | Wage subsidy per educator for child safety training. Applications expected Q2 2026. | |
Paid Practicum Subsidy | Fed | All CCS-approved providers | Paid leave per educator during mandatory practicum placements. New round expected 2026–27. |
Source: Australian Government Department of Education, 2025; GrantConnect; Services Australia
State and territory programs
Grouped by state. Each program name includes the relevant state in brackets.
Program | State | Who can apply | What it pays | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Start Strong for Community Preschools (NSW) | NSW | Not-for-profit community/mobile preschools | Operational funding + Fee Relief for 600 hrs preschool for children aged 3 and above. Up to $4,456/child in fee relief. | |
Start Strong for Long Day Care (NSW) | NSW | Eligible LDC services with 3+ and 4+ yr old preschool programs | Fee relief for families: up to $2,563/child (4 yr olds) and $769/child (3 yr olds). Eligibility determined by Dept, no application required. | |
Start Strong Pathways (NSW) | NSW | Not-for-profit providers (closed non-competitive) | Grants to support 0–3 yr old engagement and transition into preschool settings. Separate stream to core Start Strong. | |
Building Early Learning Places (NSW) | NSW | Not-for-profit ECEC providers | Capital grants for new places in undersupplied areas. $20M from Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund. | |
ECEC Scholarship Program 2026 (NSW) | NSW | Individual educators / aspiring ECTs in NSW | Up to $35,000 per educator (ECT degree), $6,000 per educator (VET Diploma). $27M total for ~2,000 scholarships. | |
Disability & Inclusion Program (NSW) | NSW | Not-for-profit community/mobile preschools | HLSN funding at $27.57/hr per educator, up to 600 hrs/child/yr. IE capital grants up to $5,000 per service. | |
P&C Transition Grant (NSW) | NSW | Approved OOSH services transitioning to P&C | Up to $10,000 per service to reimburse transition costs. Open to 30 Jun 2026. | |
ECT Individual Incentives (VIC) | VIC | Qualified ECTs in VIC taking funded kinder roles | $9,000 pre-tax per educator. | |
Early Childhood Scholarships (VIC) | VIC | Individual educators / aspiring ECTs in VIC | Cert III to Diploma upskill, ECT degree scholarships. CALD streams available. | |
Free Kinder / 3-Year-Old Kindergarten (VIC) | VIC | Families / approved kinder providers in VIC | Up to $2,500 per child subsidy. 50 new state-run centres planned. | |
3-Year-Old Preschool Rollout (SA) | SA | Partner LDC & preschools in SA | $339.7M total program over 5 yrs (not per service). Per-child Preschool Boost funding + Quality Uplift grants. | |
QualifySA (SA) | SA | Aspiring educators in SA | Financial support per educator for Diploma (TAFE SA) and Cert III for Aboriginal students. | |
Flying Start Workforce Grants (SA) | SA | Regional/rural services in SA | Attract, retain and sustain workforce. Round 3 opened Feb 2026. | |
Intervac Funding (SA, OSHC only) | SA | Approved OSHC / vacation care in SA | Additional educator funding per child for inclusion of children with additional needs. Bridge to ISP. | |
Kindergarten Funding & Subsidies (QLD) | QLD | Approved kindergarten providers in QLD | Per-child subsidies for approved kindy programs inc. 2 planning days in 2026. | |
Practicum & Workforce Programs (QLD) | QLD | Individual educators / services in QLD | Practicum grants per educator, Leadership Program, Positive Behaviour Coaching, Quals Pathways. |
Sources: NSW Dept of Education; Victorian Govt; SA Office for Early Childhood; QLD Early Childhood
What would you like us to cover next?
Thanks for reading.
We appreciate you taking the time to stay across what’s shaping early learning right now. We’ll be back next week with more insights, analysis and practical takeaways.
– The team @ The Service Desk
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