NSW initiatives

The NSW Government offers a comprehensive range of grants and funded programs designed to improve access to ECEC for children and families.

These initiatives may include funding for First Nations education programs, disability inclusion support, capital works projects, business capability development, and preschool attendance programs.

For current information on available grants, eligibility criteria, and application processes, including both active and closed funding opportunities, visit the Department’s grants and funded programs page.

The Department’s website is regularly updated to reflect new funding opportunities and program changes, ensuring ECEC providers have access to the most current support available.

Federal initiatives

The Australian Government administers the federal Community Child Care Fund, which provides grants to help providers and services address barriers to ECEC participation, particularly for disadvantaged, regional and remote and Indigenous communities.

The fund includes multiple grant streams:

• Special Circumstances grants for services facing unexpected challenges like emergencies
• Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Communities grants to help services stay operational and increase capacity
• Restricted grants for identified services including First Nations-led services and Connected Beginnings programs as Closing the Gap measures.

For federal funding opportunities including the Community Child Care Fund, visit the Department of Education’s website and monitor the Australian Government’s GrantConnect portal.