Deadline: 14-Aug-2024
Applications are now open for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) WA Grant Program.
A Grants Program has been established to distribute funding to the ECEC sector. The Supporting Children in ECEC WA Grants Program is designed to assist the ECEC sector in securing funding for initiatives that are dedicated to improving outcomes for children.
This Grants Program provides Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA) funding for registered Providers with a Service Approval offering preschool programs in line with the objectives of the Preschool Reform Agreement to facilitate children’s early learning and development, and transition to school by:
- maintaining universal access to affordable, quality preschool programs for all children
- improving participation in preschool programs
- maximising the benefit of the preschool year by improving outcomes for children
The Preschool Reform Agreement has a focus on improving preschool participation and outcomes including for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; and
- disadvantaged children
Purpose
- The Grants Program will fund programs and initiatives that develop and maintain preschool program quality, prepare children for preschool and promote children’s enrolment and regular attendance in preschool programs in Approved ECEC services within the age group of 3 to 4.
- Grant funding is available for registered Providers with a Service Approval to:
- facilitate children’s early learning and development, and transition to compulsory schooling, through maintaining universal access to, and maximising participation in, affordable, high quality early childhood education programs in the year before fulltime school, delivered by degree-qualified early childhood teachers.
- facilitate children’s enrolment, attendance, and preparation for preschool, particularly amongst:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- children living in regional, remote and very remote communities,
- children experiencing significant disadvantage,
- children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- children in the care of the CEO, Department of Communities.
- support and enhance the professional capability of the early childhood workforce, and their provision of quality preschool programs, regardless of the delivery location Programs to support children currently enrolled may include:
- fee relief for families, where it is not available through other sources.
- provision of qualified early childhood teachers to deliver preschool programs.
- quality improvements, including teacher recruitment and retention.
- program subsidies.
- Programs for children who are not yet enrolled in preschool may include:
- communication, outreach and community engagement with targeted cohorts.
- enrolment and attendance strategies, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children, disadvantaged children, and children living in regional, remote and very remote areas, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children in the care of the CEO, Department of Communities.
- specialised programs, without which children would have no access to preschools, or programs that meet their individual needs.
- Professional development programs may also be provided to support professional capability and ensure contemporary practices are utilised by the early childhood workforce.
Funding Information
- Grants are available from $20,000 to $100,000.
Timelines
- Grant activities must be completed by 16th February 2025, with acquittals submitted by the 31 March 2025.
Eligible Locations
- Your grant must include activities at the same location as the application within Western Australia
- Preference will be given to grant activities that are delivered in regional, remote and very remote areas
Eligibility Criteria
- all Education and Care services in Western Australia approved under the National Law and the Child Care Services Act
- to be eligible you must also:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have an ECEC Service Approval Number
- be registered for the purposes of GST
- the service submitting the application must be located in Western Australia.
Ineligible
- Any organisation that is not an Education and Care service in Western Australia approved under the Education and Care Services National Law (WA).
For more information, visit Child Australia.